The felling of two pine trees in Lorraine has reignited residents’ concerns about developers prioritising housing over environmental protection.
Local resident, Samantha Barnes, shared her disappointment and dismay when she came across two “well-established” Pine trees cut down earlier this month.
“Lorraine used to be so pretty with all the trees,” she mused. “I take a long walk every day and we as residents are so sad about these trees; it has been going on for decades.”
Barnes, who lives in a townhouse complex, says she is not against housing developments, but it was worrying that the natural habitat of birds and other wildlife was slowly being removed.
“The Pine trees were healthy; they supported bird life, insects and other life,” she added. “When they build new housing developments, they cut off all the trees and it is just wrong.”
Barnes said she has memories of trees lining the streets of Lorraine but sadly they had changed drastically.
“There used to be a row of 20 pine trees off Longwy Road that were cut down,” she shared. “I’m not opposed to new developments, but developers need to consider the broader impact.”
She is hoping for more environmental awareness.
“I am greatly saddened that every open space is steadily being filled up with townhouse developments. What especially disturbs me is that established trees are cut down and destroyed.”
Ward 8 Councillor, Gustav Rautenbach, explained that in the case of private property, developers had the right to build.
“When it’s private property, like in this case, and many other cases, an application for the development is submitted to the Municipality and if there is rezoning involved, the municipality informs my office as the ward councillor and then I discuss it with my ward committee,” he explained.
He further explained that before developing a townhouse complex development is approved, an environmental impact assessment is done.
“The developer approaches the environment services organisation that does the inspections; then the developer has the right to proceed and cut down the trees. When it comes to the trees here (in Lorraine) there are mostly alien trees such as Bluegum, Pine trees and Port Jacksons.”
When it comes to protected trees, however, it is highly unlikely the trees would be removed.
“I had a case where a Yellowwood tree – a protected tree – on a verge in front of a house needed to be trimmed,” he continued.
“This person asked permission from the Municipality to trim it and the Municipality responded that it was not within their mandate. So, he had to approach the provincial environmental services that gave permission to trim the tree, not remove it.”
Rautenbach emphasised that when it comes to municipal [responsibility], he has on many occasions stopped contractors from cutting down trees.
“On more than one occasion, on municipal property, where permission was given to contractors to cut down Bluegums and Pine trees for wood, I stopped it because Ward 8 has a very high-water table.”
He explained how trees helped to absorb water which minimises flooding during winter rains.
“What happens with heavy rain is that the water doesn’t sink into the ground, which then causes flooding,” he shared. “In those instances, the trees help in our area.”
To ensure that Lorraine remains a “leafy suburb” and does not turn into a “concrete jungle” counteracting the impact of the thousands of trees removed, Rautenbach started an environmental project to plant trees.
“In Ward 8, there are around 123 townhouse complexes, so all those trees were removed, especially the Bluegum and Pine trees; hence, I have started the Go Green project.”
According to Rautenbach, over 2000 indigenous trees have been planted with the assistance of the Parks Department and local residents since the launch of the project in 2008.
“The Parks Department provides the trees, digs the hole and then I invite residents and organisations such as schools to plant the trees,” he shared.
“Residents have to apply to plant trees on verges, on condition, that they take care of the tree for two years, watering it and keeping it clean.
“I don’t want to see Ward 8 change into a concrete jungle.”
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