ONEtree in focus

ONEtree and way too much talking, talking

An 80-year-old Dutch elm tree is now officially blocking the $130 million York Park redevelopment. City of Launceston councillors failed to agree on the tree's fate after the Department of State Growth sought its removal to facilitate the redevelopment of the facility, also known as UTAS Stadium. A private consortium has lodged a $2.3b new stadium and precinct proposal in Hobart Councillors were first presented with a motion to grant planning permission to remove the tree - something that was required as the York Park area has heritage protections........... The tree itself does not have such protections.Council tied up over performance criteria Councillor Alan Harris spoke for the original motion at the September 5 meeting, and said although it relied on performance criteria it would result in a better outcome for the city.He said a vote to approve the planning application did not mean the tree would be lopped overnight, but it would give the proponents that option if they could not adjust their designs to retain it. "If we are to have $130 million spent on York Park to improve and upgrade it to a level two AFL and Cricket Australia listed stadium, we must support today the request to remove the elm tree," he said.The proponents said they were investigating planting mature trees in place of the Dutch elm, and reusing the tree's wood at the site.Councillor Andrea Dawkins said she was "erring on the side of the tree", and it was possible for the redevelopment to go ahead with the tree in place. Councillors Lindi McMahon and Andrew Palmer each advised their colleagues to set aside emotions before making their decisions. This vote came down to a tie, which under council rules is a loss.///////////// IN THE MERCURY The Launceston City Council’s inability to decide whether a “significant” elm tree should be removed to make way for the redevelopment of the University of Tasmania Stadium is likely to cost the state government hundreds of thousands of dollars. Spearheaded by the Department of State Growth, the project is being jointly funded by the Tasmanian and Commonwealth governments.It’s designed to ensure that the stadium at York Park remains fit-for-purpose and is able to keep hosting elite sport, such as AFL and cricket.The department is yet to lodge a planning application for the development and is first seeking approval to remove a Dutch elm tree at the site, which it says cannot remain there if the development is to proceed because it will impact the design of key facilities in the centre-western wing of the stadium.Artist's impression of new externals at UTAS Stadium. The Department of State Growth is seeking approval to remove an old elm tree at York Park to make way for the development. Picture: Supplied.The 17m-tall tree is believed to be 70-80 years old and has a spread of 27 metres. It’s estimated to have been planted between 1940 and 1950.Addressing a Launceston City Council meeting on September 5, Infrastructure Tasmania CEO Ben Goodsir said the development represented a “significant investment” in the Northern city but noted that it would be a “difficult build”..“Cost escalations at the moment mean that any delay adds hundreds of thousands of dollars to the actual build,” he said. Council officers recommended that the application to remove the tree be approved but councillors were evenly split on the matter and could not form a decision, leaving State Growth little choice but to apply to the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for a resolution.The Launceston City Council was unable to reach a decision regarding whether or not an old elm tree should be removed to make way for the $130m redevelopment of the University of Tasmania Stadium. Picture: Supplied.The Launceston City Council was unable to reach a decision regarding whether or not an old elm tree should be removed to make way for the $130m redevelopment of the University of Tasmania Stadium. Picture: Supplied.Frank Rosol, a consulting arborist for the council, told the meeting that while he supported the proposal to revamp the stadium, it was “vexing to me” that it required the removal of the “significant and valuable” tree. “We are not sure precisely what species of elm this is. It may well be that the elm is quite rare,” he said. Cr Susie Cai said she had been contacted by “many” members of the public who were concerned about the prospect of the elm’s removal.“I feel like once this tree is gone, it’ll be lost forever. But there are many ways to upgrade the stadium – we just haven’t found the right way yet,” she said.A State Growth spokesman said the department was “considering its planning options” after the council failed to make a determination.“The construction program is being reviewed in light of this,” he said.||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Elm tree stands in way of redevelopment

 of Launceston's York Park stadium 

By Ashleigh Barraclough Topic:Local Government Tue 10 Sep Tuesday 10

 Image: Dense tree branches are silhouetted against a blue sky with stadium in the background and "hawks" in yellow branding. 

A report to the council recommended the Dutch elm be removed 

and four other trees be planted nearby. (ABC News: Morgan Timms) .

In short: A Launceston City Council motion to remove an old elm tree to make room for the redevelopment of the city's football and cricket stadium, York Park, has failed. ...................... Some community members and councillors have argued the elm should be protected, while others say the redevelopment of the stadium should take precedence. ...................... What's next? 

The Department of State Growth says it is considering its options following the council decision, and construction timelines will need to be reviewed. ...................... A decades-old elm tree standing in the way of an upgrade to Launceston's York Park stadium has led to an impasse within the local council over its removal. ...................... The architects of the stadium redevelopment said the tree would need to go to build the new centre-west stand, which would provide additional spectator seating, change-room facilities, coaches' boxes, and media and broadcast facilities. ...................... But at Thursday's council meeting, Launceston City councillors were split over the decision, meaning the motion to remove the tree failed. As the developer, the Department of State Growth will need to appeal to the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT) for a result. ...................... Image Delicate little green leaves sprout at the ends of branches against a blue sky. The Dutch elm tree is estimated to be about 70 to 80 years old. (ABC News: Morgan Timms) ...................... The stadium hosts AFL and cricket matches, and will serve as the home ground for the Tasmania AFL team in 2028, alongside Bellerive Oval in Hobart. ...................... If built, the proposed Macquarie Point stadium will become the side's home ground in the state's south. ...................... A diagram showing an area a football stadium proposed extension will impact upon an old elm tree The area of the proposed expansion overlaps with the area the elm tree occupies. (Supplied: Populous + Philp Lighton Architects) ...................... Tree's arborist 'vexed' The 17-metre-high tree is estimated to be 70 to 80 years old, with an arborist's report confirming it is "in good shape". ...................... Internationally, elm species are considered at risk due to a fungal disease that has devastated populations. The disease has not yet been detected in Australia. ...................... As the consulting arborist for the Launceston City Council, Frank Rosol from Australian Tree Care has cared for the elm for 12 years. ...................... He would like to see an alternative solution found so the elm can remain in place. ...................... A man in an orange Hi-Vis vest stands in front of a tree, smiling. Arborist Frank Rosol has cared for the elm in Invermay for almost half of his career. (Supplied: australiantreecaretas.com) ...................... "I'm a keen football supporter and I actually applaud that the stadium is being upgraded," he told councillors.  "It's vexing to me that that actually means, potentially, the removal of this particular specimen of elm tree." ...................... He said York Park was originally intended as a stadium surrounded by gardens and trees, so the elm played a significant role in the stadium's heritage. ...................... "If you have a chance to view the tree, you will just see how significant and valuable this tree actually is in its place," he said. ...................... Afternoon sunlight hits a tree on a patch of lawn that is surrounded by metallic buildings and fencing. The Dutch elm has not been impacted by the fungal disease decimating overseas specimens. (ABC News: Morgan Timms) ...................... Rosie Mackinnon, co-chair of the Tasmanian branch of the Australian Garden History Society, agreed with Mr Rosol's comments. ...................... "It creates a greening canopy, and I believe the council has a very high priority right now for its greening urban strategy," she said. ...................... "This tree is part of our history." ...................... Aerial view of a stadium. York Park stadium officially opened in 1921 and has taken many forms since. (Austadiums.com) ...................... Developers to face TASCAT after councillors split The application to the council to remove the tree was brought by consultant ERA Planning and Environment, which is representing the Department of State Growth on the redevelopment. ...................... "The application is supported by detailed studies, including heritage, site contamination and an arborist report," Patrick Carroll from ERA said at last week's council meeting. ...................... He said the council's infrastructure and heritage teams had assessed the proposal and were supportive of the tree's removal. ...................... "Any amendments, however, may jeopardise the project's timelines and may have funding implications," he said. ...................... A football stadium from the inside. Developers have raised concerns about budget and timeline blowouts due to the delay. (ABC News: Morgan Timms) ...................... Under the proposal, four mature trees would be planted near the location of the removed elm. ...................... The elm's wood would be reused on-site. ...................... Councillor Alan Harris urged his colleagues to pass the motion so the architects of the redevelopment could proceed with certainty. ...................... "If we're going to have the new stadium, the tree will have to go," he said. ...................... Councillor Alex Britton said while it would be ideal to keep the tree and upgrade the stadium, he could not see that happening. ...................... "I don't want to dismiss the importance of the tree or any tree," he said. ...................... "However, to me, this investment in our cities is more important than this tree." The motion to remove the tree was split down the middle, with five councillors to five, meaning an appeal with TASCAT will need to be lodged to continue. 

A diagram showing a football stadium and proposed extensions. The proposed expansion of York Park stadium includes a new centre-west stand on the site of the elm tree. (Supplied: Populous + Philp Lighton Architects) ...................... A spokesperson for the department said it was considering its options following the council decision. ...................... The Tasmanian and federal governments have each contributed $65 million for the redevelopment of York Park to increase the stadium's capacity by about 2,000 seats, make it more accessible to people with disabilities, and bring its facilities up to standard. ...................... The department has raised concerns about budget and timeline blowouts to the $130 million redevelopment due to the delay. ...................... Construction on the stadium was set to begin next month and finish by early 2027.

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