2016-06-20
Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren has urged the West Coast Eagles to reconsider its plans to clear parkland in Lathlain containing hundreds mature trees for a proposed oval and training facilities.
“If the West Coast Eagles truly want to improve health in society and focus on the community as per their public statements, they will hold off plans to clearfell dozens of mature healthy trees for this development and instead work with the community on a design that will retain this valuable tree canopy,” Ms MacLaren, the WA Greens Urban Bushland Spokesperson and Member for the South Metropolitan Region, said.
“There is growing awareness in Perth that protecting mature trees in urban areas has multiple benefits for both our physical and mental health, and is in fact crucial for moderating air temperatures into the future as our city warms.
“There are 271 mature trees within the Eagles’ proposed Lathlain Precinct site and as yet no clarity about how many will be retained overall, despite community concerns being raised and a decision to be made imminently on progressing part of the development.
“An arborist’s report commissioned by the Town of Victoria Park has confirmed that the vast majority of the trees (251), are in good or fair condition and together they provide a total of nearly 18,000 square metres of canopy and have an amenity value of $2.7 million.
“Last month, the Greens released Perth’s Urban Forest plan, which recognises the tangible benefits mature trees make to people’s mental and physical health, as well as local air temperatures, real estate values, utility bills and community cohesion.*
“Simply put, big mature trees make a big difference to people’s wellbeing, including activity levels, mental outlook and community cohesion, along with making the suburb cooler and more attractive, increasing real estate values and bringing in birdlife and other animals.
“It takes decades for a young tree to grow to maturity and provide these benefits.
“I have written to the Eagles inviting them to show leadership in how to do development in regard to tree canopy, by engaging with the Victoria Park community now before this development proceeds any further, to work out a way to retain as many as possible of these trees, so that both residents and future users of the facilities can reap the benefits.”
Download the WA Greens Perth’s Urban Forest plan: http://greens.org.au/wa/wa2.0/perths-urban-forest