The Nullarbor is an almost treeless
plain created by millions of years of weathering evolution- through exposure to
the elements.
If Main Roads WA has its way their Wheatbelt roads will provide an endless, almost treeless vista to road users, courtesy of exposure to a chain saw.
Over a decade ago a damning, independent WA Road Safety Report claimed that many rural roads had a similar safety rating to those in third-world countries. Guatemala, Eritrea, El Salvador and Rwanda are considered to be third-world.
The report had nothing to do with trees. It was about alleged substandard engineering methods, construction and maintenance. Some road cambers were claimed to be so poorly designed they could turn vehicles into deadly projectiles, not hold them to the road at reasonable speeds.
One vehicle, with its speedometer still registering the required speed limit, struck a tree, 2 metres above its base. The accident was, in part, a combination of a miniscule crumbling road verge and, arguably, a camber on a bend that was an engineering nightmare.
This was in 2006, on a rural road maintained by Main Roads and the bend remains the same. The sole occupant was killed. The tree was probably superfluous. The differential height between the 600 millimetre-wide road verge, and the surrounding topography, was at least 3 metres.
Instead of improving these roads to the standards expected of a highly developed Western civilization, Main Roads WA, as a Government agency, has always chosen the ‘el cheapo’ option including its construction and maintenance tendering processes going to the lowest, or most politically expedient bidder. (One example of this appears on a summer’s day when your tyres have got more bitumen on them than the road.)
So with aesthetically pleasing, ancient trees gone, vehicles can now safely plunge into deep roadside ditches, set alight the metre high, dry grass lining the verges and then plough through fences and into paddocks. Or clip one of the remaining tree stumps and cartwheel through the air.
It certainly is not a Government knee-jerk reaction to last year’s carnage on WA country roads.
Apparently ‘Direct Interest’ emails were sent to the Shires of York, Beverley and Quairading, via the Department of Environmental Regulation, requiring shire input and any objections to culling 200-year-old trees.
This was 14-months ago, on or about the 10th or 11th of November 2015 with the ‘no-response’ deafening.
In the Shire of York’s defence, at that point in time, the new council had only been in office for a month and the shire administration was still dead in the water, floating around like a miniature Titanic.
But that is where any sympathy and empathy ends.If Main Roads WA has its way their Wheatbelt roads will provide an endless, almost treeless vista to road users, courtesy of exposure to a chain saw.
Over a decade ago a damning, independent WA Road Safety Report claimed that many rural roads had a similar safety rating to those in third-world countries. Guatemala, Eritrea, El Salvador and Rwanda are considered to be third-world.
The report had nothing to do with trees. It was about alleged substandard engineering methods, construction and maintenance. Some road cambers were claimed to be so poorly designed they could turn vehicles into deadly projectiles, not hold them to the road at reasonable speeds.
One vehicle, with its speedometer still registering the required speed limit, struck a tree, 2 metres above its base. The accident was, in part, a combination of a miniscule crumbling road verge and, arguably, a camber on a bend that was an engineering nightmare.
This was in 2006, on a rural road maintained by Main Roads and the bend remains the same. The sole occupant was killed. The tree was probably superfluous. The differential height between the 600 millimetre-wide road verge, and the surrounding topography, was at least 3 metres.
Instead of improving these roads to the standards expected of a highly developed Western civilization, Main Roads WA, as a Government agency, has always chosen the ‘el cheapo’ option including its construction and maintenance tendering processes going to the lowest, or most politically expedient bidder. (One example of this appears on a summer’s day when your tyres have got more bitumen on them than the road.)
So with aesthetically pleasing, ancient trees gone, vehicles can now safely plunge into deep roadside ditches, set alight the metre high, dry grass lining the verges and then plough through fences and into paddocks. Or clip one of the remaining tree stumps and cartwheel through the air.
It certainly is not a Government knee-jerk reaction to last year’s carnage on WA country roads.
Apparently ‘Direct Interest’ emails were sent to the Shires of York, Beverley and Quairading, via the Department of Environmental Regulation, requiring shire input and any objections to culling 200-year-old trees.
This was 14-months ago, on or about the 10th or 11th of November 2015 with the ‘no-response’ deafening.
In the Shire of York’s defence, at that point in time, the new council had only been in office for a month and the shire administration was still dead in the water, floating around like a miniature Titanic.
Once again the Shire of York has failed to advise the community of matters of serious local public interest. This time- regarding an extremely important conservation issue.
The matter should have undergone a community consultative process with Main Roads WA required to publically provide alternatives to such drastic, ugly and probably unnecessary measures.
The Shire finally spoke to the press rather than first talking to its own people. The quote is ‘it’s unfortunate that a lot of those big old trees will have to go but it is a safety thing. I would hate to see someone’s child or grandson or granddaughter run into one of these trees’.
It is vehicles running into trees and is always the end result of human error or mechanical failure.
Given Main Roads WA’s past record, its human error is bad road design and poor maintenance. A tree is just an impact factor that can be blamed, (along with other vehicles, bridges, culverts, power poles, fences, buildings, traffic lights and wildlife), rather than any systemic failures.
.
The Shire of York’s error is still the lack of communication, an endemic failure to include its own community in its determinations which in the past bordered on contempt. What it borders on now is anyone’s guess.
And there goes any revitalized, scenic bus tour industry, in the South East Avon, down the gurgler.
David Taylor.
Who decides what statements are made to the media and on who's behalf are said statements being made? If there was no reply to the letter and no consultation or agenda item then from who's behind did DW pluck that statement. Honestly!
ReplyDeleteKeeping York residents informed is not something David Wallace excels in.
ReplyDeleteThe council under Wallace is no different to previous SP Boyle and Hooper. All three SP believe they know it all, so there's no need for them to consult the community.
People in power, with a stroke of a pen can and do destroy our beautiful state. We see it every day and it all comes down to the $.
ReplyDeletePen strokers are paid well and have no concept of the damage they are doing. Try telling them their actions will result in a landscape resembling the Great Sandy Desert and they laugh.
Those good people fighting hard to stop the destruction of these trees will undoubtedly be referred to as 'greenies'. A childish name given by those with no common sense - believing it to be a derogatory term - for those with an abundance of common sense and foresight.
I send my good wishes to those speaking out publicly on this issue. May you be successful in stopping this stupidity and wanton destruction.
Here's a snippet of information that may provide a reason why the Shire President is not fighting to stop the destruction of these trees.
[The roots of the Salmon Gum are shallow and wide spreading; that can affect production of crops that grow nearby as they compete for moisture and nutrients.]
Is he batting for a Farmer?
Surely the CEO has the authority to stop this regardless of it being main roads business. The Salmon Gums are iconic, York is a country town and not the metropolis. This is all because the State government closed the Tier 3 rail lines effectively forcing more trucks onto our roads.
ReplyDeleteGod only knows what they have planned for the lakes road.
50 years I've voted Liberal, not this time though.
I would love to see violent protest regarding this, people who feel strongly about this wanton destruction should rally and make their anger known to the powers that be. Fuck the consequences, it's all part of the process, you want it out there, now's the time to be radical.
ReplyDeleteKudos goes to those prepared to be arrested for protesting about what they believe in and condemnation to those who sit at home and do nothing.
If I could walk, I'd be first in line to be chained to a tree.
Sarah, I believe CEO Martin is not permitted to speak on behalf of the Shire of York unless instructed by the Council through the Shire President.
ReplyDeleteAfter Ray Hooper left, the delegated authority given to the CEO was reviewed and reduced by the Council.
The York Shire President could have, and should have, acted to stop the destruction of these trees.
The other blog has published information as follows: Main Roads as the applicant states in its permit application to DER that “Direct interest emails were sent to the Shires of Beverley, Quairading and York on 10 and 11 November 2015. To date, no response has been received from any Shire”.
No information was made public by the Shire President about this, however he apparently made a comment to the ABC "It's unfortunate that a lot of those big old trees will have to go but it's a safety thing. I would hate to see someone's child or grandson or granddaughter run into one of these trees.
The Shire President’s ridiculous and irresponsible statement should make all residents extremely concerned about every tree, on every verge, of every road and street within the Shire of York. We will finish up living in an Historic town surround by a dust bowl.
Wallace may change his mind after all the trees are gone and drunk and/or speeding drivers crash through the farm (wire) fences, burst into flames and destroy the crops.
I'll willingly join in a protest to save these trees but I will not organise it.
People who cross York Shire President are not forgotten. Things have changed in the Administration but don't kid yourselves folks, nothing has changed at the Shire President level.