Luscious trees will transform one of Beresfield’s more generously proportioned streets but some residents fear it’s a waste of money.
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Newcastle City Council will plant about 100 trees along Beresford Avenue as part of a program it says was formulated with care and in consultation with residents.
“Council did a tree planting two years ago – they were never watered and they died,” resident Angela Waters said.
“We received a letter in February which said they had planted the wrong species [but] it’s just a waste of money.”
Beresford Avenue residents were given a choice between two trees dependent on what side of the street they live.
The letter sent to residents explained that the old magnolias were poor quality stock and were not correctly planted.
Council has begun to prepare raised tree beds, three metres across, to overcome the heavy clay soil.
“The trees are going in under power lines which I can’t understand,” Ms Waters said.
“Why would you do it when they will need constant maintenance?”
The council defended its plan.
“In accordance with the Street Tree Master Plan process on the power line side residents were given the choice of Cheese Tree or Watergum ‘Luscious’ and on the non-power line side residents were given a choice of Spotted Gum or Tallowood,” a council spokeswoman said.
The council rejected Ms Water’s request not to plant a tree on her footpath where her family has established two bush-rock garden beds.
“One of the key objectives of council’s planting program is to sustain and improve Newcastle’s urban forest to meet the Urban Forest Policy objectives of sustaining and maximising canopy cover across the LGA on an intergenerational basis,” the spokeswoman said.
“To not plant upon request will contribute to a loss of valuable planting space across the LGA for sequential planting programs and reduce the benefits that tree canopy provides to the community.”
Keith Morris is a Beresford Avenue resident of 40 years and he asked the council to consider the Western Australian flower gum instead of the spotted gums proposed for his side of the avenue – a request denied because it’s not on the council’s pre-approved list.
“When they get a big top on them [spotted gums] are particularly bad,” he said.
“We’ve seen what happens in Sydney when they get a big blow the damage they can do to roof tops.”
