Trees that were planted at Woolumbin High School by students and local environmentalist Bruce Chick, who died in 2007, will be removed to create car parking the Department of Education (DoE) has confirmed.
The DoE is building a controversial mega-school that will combine two primary and two high schools in the region. The proposal has drawn significant community backlash and the development application put in by the DoE was considered ‘XXX’. To work on the Murwillumbah mega-school site Murwillumbah Hogh School students are being relocated to the Wollumbin High School for 2023.
‘The Department of Education is working with the local community to ensure the co-location of the two schools to the Wollumbin High School for the start of 2023,’ a NSW Department of Education spokesperson told The Echo.
‘To meet the Tweed Shire Council’s development requirements, the Department of Education is planning to remodel the existing car park at Wollumbin High School to cater for the increased demand. As a result, 48 trees are being removed.
‘An independent, professional arborist has confirmed that none of the trees in this area are endangered species.
‘The Department appreciates how important it is to balance the need for new and upgraded school infrastructure while retaining vegetation as much as possible. We are committed to planting the same amount of trees that are being removed at the site as part of a replacement planting exercise.’
Other alternatives?
However, Tweed Shire Mayor told The Echo yesterday that ‘These are rainforest trees and endangered species… it is very short-sighted to remove these native trees for one year’s use of the site.
‘We would like to work with the DoE to see what other alternatives are available. Surely for such a short-term problem we can sort something out that doesn’t remove these valuable trees.’
Stop the mega-school
NSW State Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin has also weighed into the debate calling for the trees not to be removed and the school merger to be stopped.
‘I just see it as environmental vandalism,’ she told The Echo yesterday.
‘Given the legacy of the trees themselves, Bruce Chick planted them with the students, what lessons does this show our students when we are trying to be sustainable? For a temporary car park they are doing this wanton destruction.’
Local community members opposed to the removal of the trees have asked those who oppose the removal of the trees to contact their local members, councillors and the DoE to register their concerns.
Leaving other areas untouched
Rumours that the DoE will also be removing other extensive areas of native plantings, including the slope to the east of the school buildings and hundreds of trees or bush tucker plantings have been denied by the DoE. They have also confirmed that they will not be removing the native tree referred to as a Teak near the school gymnasium.
Fight! Fight for the life of those trees. Remember the hopeful muster of students and adults who planted these. Remember Bruce. Show that such effort is valued, for decades and decades and more. What about a council policy and school charter to enshire school and community regen efforts? Please don’t allow whim and whimsy to rip apart revegetation work!
How could they? How dare they propose such a thing? Adding insult to injury to the community’s unwanted mega-school, now demolishing trees for a carpark? The so-called Department of Education isn’t very smart! It must consist of egocentric, myopic & hearing impaired bureaucrats! This can’t be allowed to happen!
😡 Appalling! 😡
I remember when Mr. Chick and students planted those trees. I just never imagined they’d oneday be targeted for disposal and to make way for a frickin car park of all things!
😡
Absolutely how DARE they! These trees are part of the history and environment of the Tweed.
So little of the precious rare and endangered native species are left, but the Sydney centred government, think they have the right to rip them out for a temporary carpark??
The entire concept of ultimately combining four schools on a steep site that has a considerable are flood prone is also beyond belief.
Please bring on an election before this lunacy progresses further.
I don’t know who their “independent, professional arborist” is, but there are 2 Owenia cepiodora in the car park (main photo at top of page): https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspeciesapp/profile.aspx?id=10579 and the main threat listed on the governments own website is “Clearing and fragmentation of habitat for development, agriculture, and road-works”.