‘Not a case of neglect’: Fight lost to save 39 mature trees from chop at prestigious Perth golf club

City of South Perth council has supported the removal of 39 mature trees as part of the next phase of the redevelopment of the city’s oldest golf club.

Royal Perth Golf ClubA private members-only club in South Perth had sought council approval for its Phase 3 redesign, including the relocation of a maintenance road and the removal of 39 trees.

Their first application was to remove 76 trees.

Councilors Kathy Lees, Andre Brender-A-Brandis and Jacqueline Raison voted against the approval at last Tuesday night’s meeting.

Cr Bronwyn Waugh argued this was not a “case of neglect” or “clearance without replacement”.

“This is a managed, phased landscape approach tied to an ongoing program of revegetation and restoration,” he said.

Cr Waugh said redesigning a golf course to reduce risks such as tee shots should be “addressed proactively rather than reactively”.

“There will be a loss of trees in the short term, and that is very sad,” he said.

“I am satisfied that the long-term environmental consequences will be stronger than the current situation.”

Cr Lees attempted to delay the item, citing confusion in some of the information presented, but was unsuccessful.

He then made an alternative motion for the council not to approve the application, but said he would be prepared to consider an alternative motion that prioritized tree preservation and addressed other safety methods that did not require tree removal.

This also failed.

“The removal of 39 and more trees, potentially potentially more than 100 trees, when counting individual clump types, represents a significant and irreversible loss of canopy,” Cr Lees said.

“Our urban greening strategy clearly states in the conservation pillar that tree removal should be a last resort.

“It is both reasonable and responsible for us to consider our strategic and planning framework when the council is asked to give or withhold approval.”

Cr Raison asked why a key tree log had never been properly created or clarified despite the course’s lease stipulating this.

“The management advice states that none of the trees on the golf course are significant trees,” he said.

“I understand that this could happen and that is confirmed information this afternoon, but I understand that this could be due to the fact that no trees on the golf course are recorded.”

He said he couldn’t support approval until that issue was resolved and the true intent of the lease was better understood.

Cr Tim Houweling said the council needed to ensure it made a clear distinction between a strategy and policy, arguing that the urban greening strategy set out “long-term” objectives rather than rules of governance.

He said the decision should not be made “arbitrary, capricious or disconnected from the purpose of the lease”.

He called on the council to use an “independent, carefully considered view” and focus on whether the course could continue to operate safely and effectively in accordance with its chartered purpose. He concluded that failure to do so “would mean falling into error.”

At the city’s agenda briefing the previous week, seven residents urged the council to reject the proposal.

South Perth resident Heidi Schmidt told council the community was clear about its expectations for canopy protection.

“The community has been very clear, very consistent and very vocal. We expect the city to protect, maintain and expand tree canopy, not reduce it,” he said.

The officer’s report did not take into account the reputational consequences of approving further removals, especially after previous controversy over tree felling in the city, he said.

“The shameful six-tree incident has deeply damaged the city’s reputation, our budget, and the city’s relationship with our community,” he said.

“There was no mention of reputational risk in the officer’s report.”

Ms Schmidt said removing the trees would impact wildlife known to inhabit the trail.

“The proposal to remove large numbers of trees… (will involve) the destruction of protected wildlife such as possums, bobtails, owls, and the negative impact on our beloved and endangered black cockatoos,” he said.

“The city is using the black cockatoo as a card for its own public relations purposes.”

Ms Schmidt argued that regardless of the final number, the extent of canopy loss was unacceptable.

“Whether it’s 75, 39, 80… it’s a huge loss for our canopy, our wildlife and our heritage,” he said.

Como resident Max Szmekura called for an independent wildlife audit before any removal is approved.

“The removal of a significant number of trees on this property means the loss of many valuable creatures,” he said.

In a Feb. 22 email from resident Caroline Delic to the city, she expressed her “deep dismay and outright opposition” to the tree removal.

“This includes 39 mature trees and four casuarina clusters of 69 trees, many of which provide critical habitat and food resources for native wildlife,” he said in his email.

“Wildlife that depends on these trees has no say in this process.”