UPDATED 26/2: FREMANTLE council appears to have misread the room after paving the way for a 130-year-old fig tree to be cut down on High Street, facing a stinging backlash this week.
On Thursday a crowd of around 120 people, including MP Brad Pettitt and Eskimo Joe guitarist Stu MacLeod, held up traffic outside the old Cattalini pharmacy as they noisily discussed the decision and posed for a Herald photo.
A Change.org petition started on Monday by someone listing themselves as “Green Day” had already racked up 9,329 signatures when the Herald went to print on Thursday evening.
The fig tree has also lit up the airwaves with 6PR covering the issue this week and the ABC giving the Herald a call looking for sources for a couple of programs it had in the pipeline.
• Around 120 people attended a protest photo shoot in response to Freo council taking this Moreton Bay fig off its significant tree register, paving the way for it to be cut down.
Rescind
Green Day called on the council to rescind the decision.
“The proposed demolition threatens not only this individual tree but sets a dangerous precedent for future decisions regarding our natural heritage in Fremantle and beyond,” they wrote.
“We must stand together as a community and demand that our government prioritise environmental concerns over short-term private financial gains.”
They also called on the council to act on a previous agreement with the Cattalini family, which still owns the property but blame the tree for their inability to find a buyer, to assist with its maintanance.
Design Freo organised the photo shoot, and secretary Emma Brain told the Herald she was overwhelmed by the response.
“It shows that we are prepared to stand up for the things we value in Fremantle,” Ms Brain said.
Zoe Saleeba, daughter of prominent Fremantle architect, Trevor Saleeba, was in the crowd and had environmental rather than heritage values in mind.
“I live in Fremantle and am on my street all the time, and am constantly aware of the rising heat,” Ms Saleeba said.
“My kids are growing up in Fremantle and I want a healthy future for them, so it’s important to keep as much canopy here as possible.”
Ms Saleeba’s three-year-old son Remy Finnie was a bit more blunt about the decision to remove the tree’s protection: “I am going to tell them they are stupid,” he said.
• Zoe Saleeba and son Remy.
The protest brought out the entire team from South Fremantle-based landscape architects See Design Studio.
Director Joel Barker told the Herald there were many options to develop the site, which with sensitive landscape planning could see the fig remain.
The public backlash isn’t the first time the council has faced criticism for weakening the tree’s protection; 20 years ago it had to back down and agree to help the Cattalinis look after the tree after similar protests.
Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge said the fig’s future was an emotive issue for many in the community and not everyone would be pleased with the council’s decision.
“On balance, Council’s decision responded to the concerns of the landowners,” she said.
“The decision was made after due consideration of the officer’s report and submissions received.
“The future of the tree is now in the hands of the property owner, who has cared for and maintained the tree for the past 60 years.”
Ms Fitzhardinge noted that another tree in Douglas Street was added to the register at the request of the owner.
“To be listed on the City’s significant tree register, property owners must self-nominate a tree for inclusion,” the mayor said.
“The City does not have a policy that allows it to list trees on private property where the landowner does not give consent.”
Update: Our original story mistakenly bumped of Trevor Saleeba a little early; he’s the great Saleeba – not the late Saleeba.
by STEVE GRANT