Ausgrid Tree Pruning - Newcastle
Petitioner:
Mr Matthew Mooney
| Member:
Crakanthorp, Tim
| No. of Signatories:
1,386
| Date closed:
18/08/2021
To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly,
Newcastle’s urban forest is being compromised by harsh pruning by Ausgrid and this is having a detrimental impact on the local community.
Communities around the city and NSW are outraged by the significant loss in visual amenity, tree canopy benefits such as urban cooling, and the increased risk of tree failure following heavy pruning undertaken by Ausgrid.
This petition calls on the NSW Liberal and National Government and the NSW Minister for Energy and the Environment to immediately direct Ausgrid to:
1. Undertake an urgent review of their vegetation management policies and pruning practices;
2. Investigate the installation of aerial bundled cables in the tree lined streets of Newcastle to reduce the need for harsh pruning;
3. Review how often trees are pruned with a view to increasing the frequency so such harsh pruning is not required; and
4. Engage and consult with the Newcastle community regarding tree pruning expectations.
