Our Canberra community loves urban trees. At a time of climate emergency, trees are even more important. The climate is warming—summers are getting hotter—and heatwaves are happening more often, and are hotter, for longer.

Recently there's been some discussion in the community in relation to the Dickson Common Ground housing project planned for section 72 (8 Hawdon Place). The Common Ground housing model supports people to move directly from homelessness into permanent housing and, most importantly, follows through with the support they need to stay housed, to improve their connections to health, education and employment, and to live independently with stability.

The ACT Greens strongly support public and community housing, including the proposal to construct Common Ground Dickson and rezone the block to the Community Facility Zone.

However, in my role as ACT Greens Member for Kurrajong, I’ve received a fair bit of community feedback on the Common Ground project - mostly raising concerns about the potential loss of many trees along Sullivans Creek. This is unfortunate, as the Common Ground proposal only appears to directly result in the loss of one larger tree.

However, many trees would be removed due to a possible future road along the creek from Hawdon Place to Rosevear Place.  There is a real risk that Common Ground will lack community support as a result of tree removal that’s not, in fact, part of the Common Ground proposal. 

The Greens believe this road should be scrapped. Instead, a wide and well-lit walking and cycling path running the whole way from Dickson Pool to Hawdon Place should be built. I have written to the relevant Ministers to argue for this change and will keep pushing to protect the trees.

Our Greens commitment is to our community, and to ensuring that Canberra remains liveable and sustainable for decades to come. The Greens will continue to monitor this situation closely and will keep you updated with relevant progress.