ADVENTURE WORLD’S car park is being increased by 150 bays, but at the cost of 50 native trees.
Ironically, the same day Cockburn council sealed the trees’ fate, it was giving heritage protection to hundreds of others along the Roe 8 highway route in Bibra Lake and Hamilton Hill.
The scattering of melaleucas, tuarts, and swamp gums in Adventure World’s carpark weren’t old or big enough to make the council’s significant tree list, but their removal invoked the ire of Anita Staube, whose daughter attends neighbouring Waldorf school, and Peter Rattigan, who owns the block behind the car park.
The pair negotiated a truce with the project foreman in an effort to save a few trees around the perimeter, and have met with Cockburn council staff who are considering their request.
Mr Rattigan says a large tuart is important to him, as he planted it 30 years ago and says it has become a favourite perch for native wildlife, including endangered black cockatoos.
“All I want to do is save that tuart,” Mr Rattigan said. “It’s grown really well and it’s a source of food for birds in the area.”
• Concerned locals Peter Rattigan and Anita Staude are determined to protect this tuart in the Adventure World car park.
Wildlife
The council recently planted a line of plane trees on the verge surrounding the car park, but Mr Rattigan says its a poor offset if native plants, which offer better wildlife habitat, are being replaced by introduced species.
“I accept that this is happening. It’s a done deal and they need that parking, but if they plant suitable native trees, that would be a win,” Mr Rattigan said.
Ms Staude was less forgiving.
“They said it would be refurbished. Now, refurbishment sounds like a cuppa tea and a scone — not this,” she said about the torn-up carpark.
“If man can now be orbiting around Jupiter then surely they can negotiate some trees on an asphalt carpark!”
Planning and Development Services Director Daniel Arndt says trees couldn’t be kept because of new stormwater drains.
• A birds-eye view of the car park, minus about 50 native trees. Photos by Trilokesh Chanmugam
“The redevelopment will result in replanting of 63 tree species,” he said, but without saying whether they would be natives.
Ms Staude is hoping to use some of the wood from the felled gums for woodworking at the school.
“We’d prefer the trees, but you know at least it can be put to good use.”
A report to council said the car park on Gwilliam Drive in Bibra Lake had deteriorated since its construction in the 1980s, that it inefficiently used the space, and that it had a number of structural issues.
In return for Adventure World paying for redevelopments, Cockburn Council offered the theme park a non-exclusive license to use the carpark for just $1 per year.
by TRILOKESH CHANMUGAM
