Councillors are ready to wage war on Leylandii.
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Councillor Larry Whipper passionately argued at the March 22 council meeting that Leylandii trees were ruining rural vistas in the Highlands.
He said areas including Old South Road, Aylmerton Road, Range Road and the Illawarra Highway were most affected by the growth of these trees.
“The time’s come, we’ve got to do [something] soon or we’ll be driving down wind tunnels of green. The shire will just be generic and that’s incredibly scary,” he said.
“We’ve got to make sure we make a noise. If it’s something to get political about I think we can, and set a precedent for other shires.”
Cr Ian Scandrett said at the council meeting many Leylandii plantings were nothing more than “view theft”.
“In this case I am totally for tree-butchering, I want these butchered to the ground,” he said.
Cr Whipper said he continued to receive correspondence from other concerned citizens throughout the shire.
In this case I am totally for tree-butchering, I want these butchered to the ground.
- Councillor Ian Scandrett
“These trees - nothing lives in them. They draw water from the ground and impact on neighbourhoods. I don’t think people understand how high they grow.
“The green between is not just planting Leylandii between our towns and villages. These views belong to everyone.”
Council agreed to write to the Department of Planning to obtain permission to regulate the planning of the trees in the Wingecarribee.
It is an issue that is not new to council.
In 2008 council went out and recorded heritage views it wanted to protect and went to the Department of Planning but could not get permission to control the planting of Leylandii.
Cr Duncan Gair has also previously tried to find a solution to the problem.
“I moved we ban the planting of Leylandii in town areas but it didn’t get up. There is a place for each species of tree,” he said.
“I’d like to see them banned in towns. Old South Road - why do they want to hide such a beautiful sight?”