Pittwater Online News

Just Two Trees

From award winning film maker Bruce Walters (Avalon Now), Just Two Trees is a powerful expository that follows the ongoing fight of impassioned Pittwater locals to save two majestic gum trees from contractor's chainsaws.

In May 2024 Northern Beaches Council informed residents of Ruskin Rowe, in Avalon NSW, of its intention to remove four Flooded gums which form part of the street's historic avenue of trees. A large branch had fallen from one of the trees earlier in the year, causing damage to a resident's car that had been parked on public land in the quiet cul-de-sac.

This sparked a chain of events that ultimately lead to the removal of two of the four trees, and a month-long blockade of the remaining two by local residents and community groups. At the very core of the dispute is the notion of the risk versus the benefits of a community's unique tree canopy.

Watch the film below.

Background in 2024 reports:

• Ruskin Row Blockade Provides Reprieve To Flooded Gums: Residents Fed-Up With Council Destruction Of Pittwater's Trees - 30 Thousand Trees Lost Since Forced Union Of Pittwater With Warringah - Ruskin Rowe Tree Vigil June 2024
• Ruskin Row Blockade Provides Reprieve To Flooded Gums: Residents Fed-Up With Council Destruction Of Pittwater's Trees - 30 Thousand Trees Lost Since Forced Union Of Pittwater With Warringah
• Ruskin Rowe Tree Vigil Update: November 2024

Council's Draft Tree Management Policy Open for Feedback

The Northern Beaches Council is inviting feedback on its new draft Tree Management Policy which the council states ‘aims to strengthen tree assessment and protection requirements and expand the local green links between natural areas’.

‘The draft harmonises the former council's policies and provides a consistent and strategic approach to tree management across the area.’ a release by the council says

Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins encouraged the community to have their say on the draft Policy  

“This initiative underscores our commitment to maintaining and enhancing the region's exceptional tree canopy coverage, which with an estimated 12 million trees is among the highest for an urban council in Australia.  

"Our tree canopy is a vital part of our local environment, helping to keep temperatures down, providing important habitat, and is highly valued by our local community.

The council states the new draft policy provides: 

• a framework that supports the sustainable management and retention of safe and healthy trees 
• supports the management of public trees through succession and new tree planting, along with proactive and reactive maintenance programs
• preferences locally occurring native species for new plantings
• prioritises alternative options before pursuing the removal of trees

For more information and to provide feedback, the community can visit the Your Say project page. 

The policy will be on exhibition from Monday 24 February 2025 to Sunday 30 March 2025.

Visit; https://yoursay.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/tree-management-policy-draft