GREATER Taree City Council’s Strategic Heritage Advisory Committee is urging residents to nominate historically significant trees for inclusion on a list of heritage items.
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Leading the committee push for community involvement and education is Helen Hannah, and she is keen for people to look at trees within their communities with fresh eyes, to see if any should be nominated for protection.
Last week Mrs Hannah stood underneath the expansive branches of the old fig tree in Pulteney Street, Taree. She says “local say-so has it aged around 80 years.”
“If anyone in the community has more accurate information about the tree we would love to learn about it,” Mrs Hannah said.
“This beautiful tree is at the beginning of the heritage item nomination process.”
Mrs Hannah said council had no tree preservation order but 13 trees or groups of trees are listed in its principal planning instrument called the Local Environmental Plan 2010.
“According to the Local Environmental Plan it also protects trees located in Heritage Conservation Areas. These Conservation Areas are parts of larger neighbourhoods which contain buildings of historical significance,” she explained.
Mrs Hannah said some residents do have trees on their properties which they would like to protect in the future. Trees on public land or at schools, or near community halls could also be nominated.
“Trees can have significance in the social history of their community or be significant in some other way,” she said.
“A tree may have been planted on a commemorative occasion or by a well known identity. It may have been a visual marker to help guide people to a location or the seed for the tree may have come from a significant overseas location.”
Mrs Hannah said there was a specific process that must be followed if a resident wanted to have a tree considered for listing as a heritage item in the Local Environmental Plan.
She said individuals need to write to The Heritage Officer, Lillian Cullen at Greater Taree City Council, PO Box 482, Taree 2430 or email gtaree@gtcc.nsw.gov.au.
“The reason for the significance of the tree or trees needs to be explained and permission from the owner of the land on which the nominated tree stands should be obtained, except if it is located on council land,” Mrs Hannah said.
“Listing a tree as a heritage item in the Local Environmental Plan means the tree cannot lawfully be removed without the consideration of council. However, listing does not preclude removal if the tree becomes a threat to public safety,” she added.
For further information contact Mrs Hannah on 6552 3813.
