Just Two Trees

If a tree falls in Ruskin Rowe and doesn’t hit a Mercedes, does it make a sound?

It’s not every day that an article about a pair of street trees in a sleepy beachside Sydney suburb makes its way onto the front page of one of the country’s most-read newspapers, but that is exactly what happened last month, when the Sydney Morning Herald featured a story about the release of the short film “Just Two Trees”, and the catalyst for its creation.

The film, by award-winning local filmmaker and co-creator of the hit satirical series Avalon Now, Bruce Walters, begins with the question; “If a tree falls in Ruskin Rowe and doesn’t hit a Mercedes, does it make a sound?”

But despite the droll opening conundrum, the film is in fact a ‘plight and fight’ tale of a community’s battle to save two historic gum trees from council contractors’ chainsaws.

Back in May of last year, Northern Beaches Council informed residents of Ruskin Rowe, Avalon, of its intention to remove four Flooded gums (Eucalyptus grandis) which form part of the historic street’s avenue of trees. A branch had fallen from one of the trees earlier in the year, causing damage to a resident’s car that had been parked on public land in the quiet cul-de-sac.

A complaint was made to council (reportedly not by the vehicle’s owner), and this sparked a chain of events that ultimately lead to the removal of two of the four trees. Doubts raised by a local level 8 consulting arborist about the need to fell the remaining two, along with general community frustration around the constant sound of chainsaws, lead to a peaceful month-long blockade under the trees.

What started as a lone protestor with a hand-painted sign, soon grew to an organised vigil, manned by dozens of determined residents and community groups, including members of independent tree advocacy group, Canopy Keepers.

During this time Canopy Keepers commissioned a further two assessments – one by highly respected senior consulting arborist Mark Hartley – with both assessments further supporting the position that the trees posed no greater risk than any other tree and did not warrant removal.

Despite this evidence, in November Council announced its decision to uphold its original determination.

*More recently, Northern Beaches Council announced it would commission another arborist’s report on the trees. This assessment took place in late February, and at the time of printing, no decision has been made public.*

Just Two Trees explores many issues, including Council’s approach to community consultation, and the effect of canopy loss on our already burdened wildlife; with two wildlife rescuers explaining the ecological significance of big trees within wildlife corridors. But at the very core of the film is the notion of the risk versus the benefits of our unique and much-envied tree canopy.

The Northern Beaches is one of the Sydney LGAs with the highest canopy loss in recent years, having reportedly lost a staggering 30,000 trees since amalgamation. Much of this loss is from private land, so we look to our local government to set an example of stewardship for the rest of our ever-increasing population. 

Trees, both private and public, are a truly valuable asset and should be treated as such.