By Jenel Hunt
The question of whether or not a single tree could be axed from a Killarney streetscape was the subject of a long discussion at a Southern Downs Regional Council meeting recently.
The tree, an ornamental pear, was not considered to be particularly unusual but its placement in the main street of Killarney made councillors wary about allowing it to be uprooted to give access to the block behind to bring in a relocatable building.
The property, which had a frontage of 22m, contained three street trees within the road reserve. The application was to remove one of those trees, the centre one, so that a building could be trucked onto the site.
The council was told that the development application was still under assessment but that the decision of the tree’s possible removal had to be made ahead of any decision being made on the development application.
The officers’ report said the application required referral to the State Assessment Referral Agency (SARA) as Willow Street was a State-controlled road.
The Parks and Operations Department’s response within the report was that the trees were part of a council-planned response to create a superior streetscape and had become a prized community asset providing shade and aesthetic value. Removal would be in contravention to the planned policy outcome. “The applicant purchased the parcel towards the end of 2021 at which point the trees were already well established.”
Also, there were other Pyrus trees both north and south along both sides of the street, creating a co-ordinated vista.
Councillor Jo McNally said the trees were part of the character and heritage of Killarney.
Deputy Mayor Cr Ross Bartley said the council had gone through considerable heartache to get the trees planted in the first place.
“There was consultation with community, Transport and Main Roads had a lot of input and now we’re seeing the benefit of it. The trees are reaching their maturity. When people are considering what to do with a parcel of land, they know they have to consider these things.“
Cr Marco Gliori said the trees had community ownership.
The Urban Design Framework for Killarney referenced both trees and awnings for Willow Street. There was no mention of replacing the tree, officers told councillors, and the proposed development did not include an awning in the design.
Cr Stephen Tancred suggested that the possibility of bringing the building to the site another way be investigated.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads had been in discussions with both the applicant and council and was waiting on confirmation from council regarding the street tree before it would issue any relevant permits.
The TMR also commented, “If approved, please provide comprehensive conditions as to methodology of removal, and if removal and no reinstatement required, conditions as to how the grass verge is to be remediated given the nature of the tree surrounds” and that the removal of the tree ‘entire’ was unlikely to be able to be done without significant damage to kerb and footpath.
The Killarney Urban Design Framework specified that in Willow Street the ‘existing trees be retained as appropriate with future shopfront development occurring over time’. The Killarney Urban Design Framework was considered part of external consultation on the matter.
Councillors voted to refuse the request to remove the centre tree or any of the trees in front of the property.
