The Local Planning Panel have allowed the removal of this street tree at Booker Bay as part of a dual occupancy redevelopment of the site.
The seven metre tree will be replaced with an advanced (4-5m) naturalised flora species.
The panel recommended either Elaeocarpus or Corymbia as recommended in the Aboricultural Impact Assessment.
Two residents addressed the panel when it met last week arguing that removal of the street tree would contribute to the urban heat island effect and was inconsistent with Council’s Greener Places Strategy 2021-2031 and that Booker Bay is noted as an Urban Heat Island.
The council report to the panel said the proposal includes the construction of a dual occupancy on a residential lot currently containing a single dwelling, thereby doubling the dwelling potential at the subject site.
“On balance, the proposal, whilst removing a street tree, does present a lesser environmental impact when compared to land clearing often required for establishment of greenfield development sites,” the report stated.
In approving the proposal, the panel said it was permitted with development consent and complied with relevant development standard provisions under the Central Coast Local Environmental Plan 2022, including height and floor space ratio.
“Internal consultation has raised the fact that the street tree to be removed would likely have damage to structural roots in the event of any future repair of the
existing Booker Bay Rd box gutter or via excavation required for construction of a footpath along the frontage of the subject site,” the panel said.
existing Booker Bay Rd box gutter or via excavation required for construction of a footpath along the frontage of the subject site,” the panel said.
“Conditions of consent have been recommended for maintenance of street tree planting, with replacement planting required in the event that the planted tree fails to establish.”
