Letter to Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment

The Commissioner for Sustainability and The Environment
Dr Maxine Cooper
P O Box 356 Dickson ACT 2602

URGENT

Dear Dr Cooper

Tallest Tree in Canberra* – white gum on north east corner of Corroboree Park in Corroboree Park Heritage Precinct, Ainslie.

I refer to announcements in the media and on Paterson Street Ainslie on Saturday 5^th December to a crowd of concerned people that the government’s intention is to fell this tree.

We have listened to oral information and opinions about this tree, read the media release first announcing the intention to fell it (before a cherry picker was bought in to examine it), heard some media interviews, and observed some attendances by arborists and machinery at the site. We have requested that reports and other information supporting these opinions and the decision be made available to the public in writing for study. This has been denied.

We find that you have not furnished us with sufficient objective information for any recommendation that the tree should be removed.


I and others are thus aggrieved by your position on this tree.

I write to ask that before you take any further action on this tree, you respond by

1. Identifying the statutory powers that you say you have to make recommendation in respect of this tree or to recommend others to make such a decision and

2. Informing me of what merits review appeal rights we have as disaffected citizens over your claim.

3. Provide me with a written statement of your reasons for this decision - the facts and reasoning on which it is based.

Yours sincerely,

Katherine Beauchamp
7 Corroboree Park
Ainslie ACT 2602

Sent by email 5.30 pm, hard copy to follow

* opinion of late Lindsay Pryor, + Emeritus Professor Henry Nix, advising Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment, Saturday December 5, last gave the opinion at a public gathering in Ainslie that this tree is likely the ‘tallest in the valley’.