SHOALHAVEN Mayor Joanna Gash has categorically denied any knowledge about a number of trees that have been felled at the rear of her Culburra Beach property.
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Sydney man Philip Quast, a regular visited to the seaside village, raised the issue with both the Department of Environment and Heritage and Shoalhaven City Council, which are both investigating the removal of six coastal Banksia trees behind Cr Gash’s property.
Cr Gash said she has no knowledge “how or when the trees were removed”.
“We have had nothing whatsoever to do with it,” she said.
“I am aware of the complaint and as with any complaint made to council it will be investigated by staff.
“But I can categorically say I have no knowledge of the trees’ removal.”
A number of trees were discovered to have been cut down on the land between Cr Gash’s house and the sand dunes, but the cut marks do not appear to be recent.
“It’s not the first time people have written in, we had complaints when we removed some trees on the property to build our home and were allowed to do that under our development application,” Cr Gash said.
“We have tried to maintain the council reserve alongside our property which borders the well-used walkway off Mia Way to the beach. We have even donated plants to put there and keep an eye on it.
“I’m sick and tired of people sending in things I have supposedly done. I sometimes wonder if people have too much time.
“I wouldn’t cut trees down in my position.”
Cr Gash says the trees, which are in the middle of the land directly behind her property, would not have affected the views from her balcony.
“I know people have cut down trees and dumped rubbish in the reserve next to us,” she said.
Mr Quast, who visits the area at least once a fortnight and uses the laneway to make his way to the beach, said he was stunned to see the trees had been cut down.
“I love the area and do a lot of bushwalking, bird watching and fishing while I’m down here,” he said.
Mr Quast estimates the trees were between 50 and 100-years-old.
“About six have been cut down, with their trunks about six to eight inches across,” he said.
“I know Banksias grow very quickly away from the beach but in behind the dunes here, they are slow growing.
“And there were a number of bird nests in them.”
Mr Quast said he has corresponded with Cr Gash via email and copied all Shoalhaven councillors in on the correspondence, and had been assured by the mayor she would be getting council staff to investigate the matter and even offered to have staff meet him at the location to discuss the issue.