Preserving Our Heritage since 1968

The Hunters Hill Trust

The Hunters Hill Trust

Preserving Our Heritage since 1968

Which suburbs have the cleanest air?

A study by UTS shows that suburbs with dense tree canopies have lower concentrations of particulate matter in the air – cleaner air.  Tree canopies help with disperse particulate pollution that is responsible for cancers and respiratory diseases, like asthma.

The total tree canopy cover across the City of Sydney local government area is about 15.5%, including 6.6% on private land, 4.9% from street trees and 4.1% in parkland.

Dr Fraser Torpy from UTS said “Grass didn’t have a positive impact on air quality at all: it is trees and canopy density that are the important factors in reducing air pollution and particulates.”

so why on earth do we do this in Hunters Hill?  Image:  Daily Telegraph

so why on earth do we do this?
 Image: Barons Crescent,  Daily Telegraph, 2015

some of what we have in Hunters Hill Image:  Lane Cove River and Lovetts Reserve

some of what we have in Hunters Hill
 Image: Lane Cove River and Lovetts Reserve

Read more about suburbs with the cleanest air.

 

 

 

 

2015-11-19T03:37:33+11:00November 18, 2015|

Who is the tree vandal at Huntleys Cove?

tree sign

These trees belong to the community

Someone has poisoned 20 trees near the ferry wharf at Huntley’s Cove.

someone drilled holes so they could pour in poison

Drill holes clearly visible

This tiny pocket of waterfront remnant bushland has been devastated.

Hunters Hill Council has left the dead trees, closed the reserve & put banners up.

3 houses above the site will gain harbour views.

If you know something, contact phone 9879 9400 or go to www.huntershill.nsw.gov.au/treevandalism.

2017-09-03T11:52:47+10:00October 30, 2015|

Code 10/50 allows urban bushland annihilation in Hunters Hill

barons cres tree lossbarons cres tree loss 233 significant native trees have been cut down on a development site in Barons Cresent, despite a Land and Environment Court ruling that the retention of these trees was in the community interest.

The DA approved the removal of 10 trees but by using Code 10/50 the developer was able to measure 10 metres from SIX neighbouring properties to take out 33 trees.  He was stopped from removing two because they were 11 metres from a dwelling.

Riparian Zone along Lane Cove River
Riparian zone

The Rural Fire Service failed to protect the Riparian Zones (the interface between land and the river) in the Greater Sydney Basin.

The Riparian Zone is significant because of its role in soil conservation, habitat biodiversity and the influence on fauna and aquatic ecosystems.  This is especially true on this steep block in Barons Crescent.

2015-08-16T18:34:40+10:00August 16, 2015|

Temperatures rising due to tree felling

hot womanThe loss of trees around our neighbourhoods is causing air temperatures to rise.  Research from University of Melbourne shows evidence of the impact of removing tree cover:

1227149699636  http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/north-shore/air-temperature-rise-from-loss-of-tree-cover-measured-in-university-of-melbourne-research/story-fngr8h9d-1227149699636

 

The 10/50 code is being used as an excuse for people to rid themselves of unwanted trees:  Tree clearing rule misuse

2015-02-07T22:40:03+11:00December 10, 2014|

How did we allow this to happen?

how did we allow

19 Bonnefin Road Hunters Hill

This building on the banks of the Lane Cove River is nearly completed.  It is a classic example of our failure to ‘conserve and enhance the character and environmental identity of Hunters Hill’.

It certainly does not ‘maintain and enhance qualities of scenically prominent landscape settings’  and it ‘detracts from the existing character of landscape settings’.

In other words, it fails to address the objectives of the Development Control Plan and fails to comply with at least one of its controls.  Construction has continued, despite  letters and representations to Council.

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN, and

HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN

The pressure from property owners wanting to build large mansions on our river fronts is growing.

Council needs urgently to address these questions before any more irreparable damage is done.

2015-02-07T22:43:16+11:00November 29, 2014|

Changes announced to tree cutting code

chainsaw_heroAfter getting more than 1,800 submissions from outraged community members, the NSW government has announced changes to the 10/50 Code that has led to mass destruction of trees – regardless of threatened species legislation and tree preservation orders.

The entitlement area has been reduced to 100m for Category One and 30m for Category Two vegetation. The previous area was 350m and 150m respectively. The online mapping tool on the NSW RFS website has been updated:  Vegetation clearing map.   Heavy penalties apply to people who clear vegetation without authorisation.

Since 1 August this year, residents whose homes are located in designated ‘bushfire prone’ areas have been free to:

o   Clear trees within 10m of their house

o   Clear shrubs and other vegetation, except for trees within 50m of their house.

There will be a review, but we still need a MORATORIUM:

Contact Minister Ayres (office@ayres.minister.nsw.gov.au ) and the Premier (diary@premier.nsw.gov.au ).  Details:  Ayres Media Release 10-50

2015-02-07T22:40:28+11:00November 27, 2014|

5 minutes to save the beauty of our neighbourhood?

chainsaw_hero

If everyone who appreciates the trees that make our neighbourhood beautiful gives 5 minutes of their day, we  can stop the needless destruction that is happening now.

Call Anthony Roberts:  9817 4757

Call Minister Stuart Ayres:  8574 6500

urge them to call for a moratorium on chopping down trees.

It is easy to do and very effective.

 

trees for the chop

YESTERDAY: beautiful angophoras

Look on the trees in front of the white house immediately to the right of the boatshed for the last time.

The tree people removed the angophoras immediately in front of the house last week.

after treecutter

NOW : stripped bare

The house at 35 Bonnefin Road was designed by Alex Popov, who arranged the plan specifically to protect and keep these trees.

2015-02-07T22:40:52+11:00November 25, 2014|

Stop the destruction of our trees

good planet hard to find

Write a short message to the NSW Rural Fires Service before Friday 14th November.  RFS is reviewing the 10/50 Code that has allowed people to cut down trees that are within 10 meters of their house, without approval or any justification.  Send your message to  10.50@rfs.nsw.gov.au.

stumpOR use this link:  making a quick submission today provided by the Nature Conservation Council.

 

2015-02-07T22:41:20+11:00November 11, 2014|

Moratorium on destruction of trees

beforeThe 10/50 clearing code is transforming our area.  The ‘garden suburb’ can so easily be destroyed, with no impact on bushfire safety.

The Hunters Hill Trust urges the government to take immediate action by declaring a moratorium on clearing before the beauty and character of the neighbourhood is further damaged.  Our submission to Stuart Ayres MP, Minister for Police and Emergency Services is available:  here.  Send your own letter based on this template.

See more about what has been happening to mature trees in our locality:  lost trees

 

2015-02-07T22:42:45+11:00October 18, 2014|

new Code threatens to destroy character of Hunters Hill

Recent changes to the Rural Fire Service Vegetation Clearing Code leaves the tree cover and bushland of Hunters Hill vulnerable to destruction. We have been landed with a simplistic, destructive response to a complex problem.

Because of its interface with the Parramatta and Lane Cove Rivers, much of Hunters Hill’s unique character contributes to the wider character of Sydney harbour so it is recognised by the Sydney Regional Environmental Plan (Sydney Harbour Catchment) 2005.  This aims to protect and rehabilitate watercourses, wetlands, riparian corridors, remnant native vegetation and ecological connectivity.

Of course we need to mitigate the potential impact of bushfires but this Code is not the way to do it

  • The ‘fire prone lands’ have been vastly extended but there is no master plan or overall maps for people to view
  • Indiscriminate and uncontrolled clearing will have a disastrous impact on heritage values and character.
  • The impact on biodiversity, bird and animal habitat and wildlife corridors will be serious.
  • Now that professional assessment and oversight has been removed, there will be more accidents, property damage, soil erosion and water pollution.
  • Heritage items and significant trees now have no protection.
  • The code undoes years of work to educate people of the importance of trees and vegetation in their gardens.
  • Property owners can now pressure their neighbours to clear vegetation with the threat of a hazard complaint, leading to fights and disharmony.
  • The code overrides Council’s tree and vegetation management controls.

Get more information and see if your house is included in the new zoning:  Vegetation clearing tool

The Greens have outlined their objections: Green’s submission.  Voice your objection to Stuart Ayres, the minister responsible:  office@ayres.minister.nsw.gov.au

2014-08-23T21:16:06+10:00August 23, 2014|
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