Tree Removal near Sullivan’s Creek

Before After
trees-before tree1

Over a dozen trees next to the Sullivan’s Creek bike path were cut down last week, apparently without the required permission of the ACT Tree Protection unit.

Most of the trees were of sufficient height and girth to be considered ‘significant’ trees, requiring permission to remove. While there has been some doubt whether the trees were on public land or on Brindabella Christian College’s land, it makes little difference: authorisation is required to remove a significant tree on private land, and only the government is entitled to cut down a tree on public land.

The Brindabella Christian College (BCC) received development approval in August for the construction of a new classroom building on the northwest corner of their block, near Brigalow St. That approval included permission to remove 7 trees on the footprint on the proposed building. Those trees were removed on or about the same day as the 16 trees on and outside the BCC’s eastern boundary near the bike path along Sullivan’s Creek.

There has been speculation that the unauthorised removal of the 16 trees is associated with the BCC construction, as site offices have been placed in the area cleared of trees. Many local residents have contacted the LCA, incensed at what they see as yet another example of BCC’s disregard for the amenity of the local community and of due process.

You can listen to an interview broadcast on 666 ABC Canberra on Wednesday 12 October.

3 Comments

  1. J

    My experience living near BCC is they really don’t care about the community they run their business within. They only care about themselves and expansion of their business, preferably free or cheap, such as the lease they gained over the oval for a car park and their attempt to lease (for free) 10000 sq metres of Open Public Space just to build their own sports hall.
    Like some sort of passive/aggressive Waco type cult they dig their heels in and do whatever they want, damn the consequences. Are they Christians or developers in cloaks?
    For a business that claims to be deeply founded in Christain morals they certainly don’t display any outward representation of that beyond their fenceline.
    The board of this school really needs to be investigated for what it’s true motives are.

  2. Unconcerned Lyneham Resident

    So…. the issue here is that they received a DA with approval to remove the trees, and they did and somehow that’s unfair? I don’t see what your point is, sorry.

    1. LCA

      The DA approval was for 7 trees on the north-west corner of the BCC block.
      A further 16 trees were removed on the western edge of the BCC block, apparently without any approval.
      That’s the issue.

Leave a Reply to LCA Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *