THE Examiner reported in its Thursday, June 4, edition (headed ‘Free to fell hazard trees’) on a Port Stephens Council mayoral minute adopted at the May 26 meeting.
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At that meeting the council resolved to: “Provide a moratorium on the need to obtain pre-approval for the removal of trees or vegetation covered by council’s tree preservation requirements where there is a risk to human life or property for a period of 12 months.’’
A council spokeswoman has clarified council’s position, noting that the 12-month moratorium was yet to come into effect.
‘‘In order to give effect to council’s resolution, amendments are proposed to the Port Stephens Development Control Plan (DCP) relating to tree management,’’ the spokeswoman said.
‘‘The proposed amendments aim to ensure that appropriate weight is given to the consideration of community safety in the management of trees across the LGA in response to the natural disaster declaration from the unprecedented super storm in April 2015.
‘‘The moratorium is not in effect until the relevant Port Stephens DCP is amended and adopted – which will be considered at council’s meeting of June 9, 2015.’’