Forget illegal tree felling under the cloak of darkness. This time, the battle for million-dollar ocean views has been officially sanctioned by Waverley Council, and it’s sending a chilling message to every local government across Australia.
In a move slammed as “shortsighted,” the council’s decision to clear native vegetation in Sydney’s affluent Dover Heights isn’t just about a few trees; it’s about setting a dangerous precedent that could legitimise the sacrifice of vital green spaces for a better panorama.
From December 5, sections of Weonga, Rodney, and Raleigh Reserves are slated for vegetation removal.
The council’s justification? The areas are “overgrown” and infested with weeds, impacting “access and overall amenity.”
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They claim to be balancing “natural beauty, biodiversity and expansive coastal views.”
Biodiversity conservation scientist Sarah Bekessy expressed her disbelief, telling Yahoo News that most councils are actively trying to increase canopy cover, not reduce it.
“Most local governments around Australia, and internationally, are seeking to increase canopy cover and increase biodiversity. It just makes cities a hell of a lot more liveable and provides mental wellbeing, “ she said.
“They stand to lose a lot by doing this. Most forward-thinking coastal councils take the stance that vegetation is critically important.”
Plants along the foreshore of Dover Heights in Sydney will be removed by the council over the next three months. Source: Yahoo News
However, the council has stood firm in its decision.
“Over time, sections of these reserves have experienced significant vegetation growth and weed infestation, affecting access and overall amenity,” a Waverley Council spokesperson told Yahoo News.
“Achieving the right balance between ecological protection and the preservation of the area’s visual and natural qualities remains an important and ongoing objective of Council.”
When Yahoo News asked council if the decision was made for the greater good of the entire local community, or requests by immediate residents, a spokesperson confirmed it was a combination of both.
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Rodney Reserve is one of the areas in Dover Heights where council will remove plants. Source: GoogleMaps
While it’s not the first time plants have been removed from oceanfront regions of the country, Waverley Council’s decision to restore ocean views is the first major stance of its kind.
Meanwhile, in February, trees were illegally destroyed in the beachfront suburb of First Bay in Coolum, Sunshine Coast, and more than 300 native plants “vanished” just beyond multimillion-dollar views in Sydney’s Lane Cove back in 2023.
Councils across the country have cracked down hard on the behaviour, with many erecting signs where the trees and plants once stood to publicly shame those responsible and ensure the views were still blocked.
The decision to cut down vegetation in favour of ocean views has been met with shock.
When a young tree was found with holes drilled into its base in Malabar in Sydney’s east, Randwick Council warned those responsible would cop fines of up to $3800.
Steep fines are now also on the cards in Perth’s southeast with the City of Canning council recently voting to quadruple the fine for damaging or removing trees on public land from $250 to $1000.
Adelaide man Levi Timothy Daniel Kinsman was also fined $10,000 in the Environment, Resources and Development Court earlier this year for felling a large river red gum at a property in Salisbury Downs without the required planning consent.
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