COMMUNITY RALLIES AGAINST AUSGRID TREE PRUNING

BY BELLA MIDDLETON 

A community petition has been launched through State Parliament against the tree pruning being undertaken by Ausgrid around powerlines across Newcastle. 

The energy utility has a history of severe cutbacks of street trees, removing majority of the leafy growth and cutting holes in the trees canopy for powerlines to pass. 

The petition calls for the State Government to direct Ausgrid to review their pruning policies, investigate the installation of aerial bundled cables, and engage and consult with the local community regarding pruning expectations. 

State Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp has endorsed the petition for listing in the Parliament.

"Not only does the pruning often look unsightly, we also lose the urban cooling benefits street trees provide and the risk of tree failure increases," said MP Crakanthorp.

"The current pruning practices under powerlines are not meeting the community's or my expectations."

"This can be done so much better, and the NSW Government needs to step up to make this happen." 

Petitioner Matthew Mooney said that energy companies such as Ausgrid need to show they have an environmental and social conscience. 

"There's a climate change conversation happening at every dinner table around the country, yet we've got energy companies tearing down our suburban forest," said Mr. Mooney.

"When people see that the place they call home has had their trees vandalized in this way, it's an emotional thing."

The petition can be found State Parliament's website and will be open for three months. 

                                                              Picture Credit: Ausgrid
                                                 

Newcastle-Born Greater Bank Marks 75th Anniversary, Planting 75 Thousand Trees Across Hunter and State

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Newcastle-born, Greater Bank is marking its 75-year anniversary by planting 75,000 trees across regional NSW over the next 12 months.

Greater Bank CEO, Scott Morgan, says  45,000 trees and plants will be planted at key locations around Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, the Hunter and Port Stephens.

These include; 

·         Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

·         Wallsend Wetlands

·         Cockle Creek, Lake Macquarie

·         King Edward Park, Newcastle

·         Bull and Tourle Street Reserve, Mayfield West

·         Heaton Park and Maclure Reserve, Jesmond

·         Wallsend Park and Ironbark Creek, Wallsend

·         North Creek, Warners Bay

·         Williams Valley, Dungog

·         Luskintyre

The remaining will be planted across other regions within Greater Bank’s area of operation, including Central Coast, Illawarra, Dubbo, Tamworth and Tweed Heads.

“This project has been many months in the making, which has included working closely with local councils and other environmental groups to select the most appropriate sites for the planting. These groups have also provided valuable direction as to the types and species of plants to ensure they complement and support the local habitats,” Mr Morgan said.

“Once completed the project will have a significant impact on the local environments. Beyond the flora regeneration of the respective sites, collectively, the 75,000 trees will have the capacity to absorb 1,650,000kgs of carbon dioxide each year. That offsets 97 people per year and emissions from 600 cars.

Joining the launch is 13-year-old, Gigi Hubber, who features in Greater Bank’s recently launched 75th anniversary campaign. The Charlestown-based high school student is extremely passionate about the environment, and reinforced why projects like this are so important, particularly to our younger generations.

“From a young age my parents showed me documentaries and books about the environment and as I’ve got older, I’ve realised that we need to do more to protect it,” Gigi said.

“We need to inform people, older and younger generations, about the impacts we are having every day and how we need to change our ways before it’s too late.

“It makes me feel really happy seeing companies not just focusing on money, but actually giving back to the community and focusing on making the world a better place.”

Image Credit: Mashable

Newcastle Council Plants Hundreds of New Trees, Children Encouraged to Write Love Letter to Favourite One

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Hundreds of trees have been planted along local streets as part of Newcastle Council's Living Streets Program to expand the City’s urban forest.

The Council has been capitalising on Autumn rains, digging holes on street verges and reserves for around 500 trees - 40 different species - across Wallsend, Adamstown and Adamstown Heights ( full list of streets). 

Around 1,000 street trees will be planted this year as part of the City’s commitment to deliver cleaner air, reduced storm water runoff, habitat for local biodiversity, more shade and a cooler urban environment. 

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, who joined City staff to plant trees along Tyrrell Street Wallsend today, said autumn offered the perfect weather for new plantings and that today’s work followed a council decision to join a global initiative aimed at enhancing nature in and around cities.

“While most community requests for tree plantings come during Summer when we are all feeling the need for more trees, Summer isn’t the ideal time to plant and establish trees,” Councillor Nelmes said.

“The weather conditions are more favorable at this time of year as it’s cooler and more rain is about."

“We know a five per cent increase can reduce summer temperatures by one to two degrees, and that 17 trees will offset the use of one car a year in terms of carbon emissions."

Council’s City Greening Services team will complete regular maintenance of the new trees, among 6,000 recently planted across the local government area, carrying out mulching, weeding, watering and formative pruning.

The City is running a series of education activities in conjunction with tree planting, encouraging children during the COVID-19 lockdown to observe animals that visit their favourite tree and write a love letter to it.

Ward 4 Councillor Jason Dunn said kids were invited to submit a letter and photo of the tree to naturalconnection@ncc.nsw.gov.au to encourage conservatory thinking and see which trees are the most popular across the local government area.

“We want kids to take a moment to visit their favourite tree and stop, watch and listen and then write to us about how many different animals visit the tree, how long they think it’s been here and what could be lost if it was cut down," Councillor Dunn said. 

“As well as planting trees, we want to educate the next generation about how native and non-native trees support a huge amount of life in urban environments."

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Cr Jason Dunn on Tyrrell Street

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and in Cr Jason Dunn on Tyrrell Street

Council Branches Out With New Tree Species for Cooks Hill

BY OLIVIA WILSON-WHEELER

More than 900 trees have been planted in Newcastle in the past year, and another 37 will be planted on Bruce and Laman Streets in the coming month.

Members of Council and Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes were in Cooks Hill this morning to take part in the urban canopy replacement.

Lord Mayor Nelmes stressed the necessity of replacing the mature Hills figs, and that council is listening to community concerns about shade and climate control.

Watergums, Brushbox and Blackgums will be planted along Bruce Street and Red Maples will be planted along Laman Street.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes plants a watergum tree in Bruce Street Cooks Hill with Council's Environmental Education Officer Angus Weingott.