Trees removed from memorial site landscape plan

Perth Now

4 days ago

A peace deal has been struck between the City of Belmont and the local RSL over landscaping plans for a war memorial.
Trees had been proposed to be planted in the forecourt of the Belmont war memorial in Faulkner Park during works to revamp the area around the park's ornamental lakes.
New features in the park would include timber decking, new seating and shelters, lighting upgrades and an extensive pathway network.
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The war memorial, gazebo and Six Seasons sculpture in the park were integrated into its $4.75 million redesign.
The city's site said they would be retained and protected during the works.
But City of Belmont RSL Sub-Branch president Alan Richardson raised concerns at the city's April 15 meeting about four grass trees proposed to be planted in the memorial's forecourt, claiming they were not in the plans originally presented to the group. A floral tribute from the City of Belmont on Anzac Day. Credit: City of Belmont
He said the original concept plan showed terracing out the front and a new platform which would take troops in front of the memorial.
Mr Richardson told PerthNow this week the trees had since been removed from plans.
'It was negotiated very quickly and all resolved,' he said.
'They've removed the grass trees and reinstated the forecourt as it was. It will still be complementing the works behind it.'
He said at the meeting that forecourts in the 4000-plus memorials across Australia were clear of any plantings.
'You look at Parliament House; there's 5.7km straight through that avenue in Canberra. Not one tree or anything is in front of it,' he said.
City CEO John Christie told PerthNow the original design for the Ornamental Lakes project included more grass tree throughout the park.
'This included areas around the City of Belmont war memorial to integrate it with the landscape design throughout the park,' he said.
'These designs were shared with key stakeholders, including the local RSL, prior to construction. A plaque of the Belmont war memorial's history. Credit: Michael Palmer
'Following feedback from the local RSL, the trees near the front of the war memorial were relocated to other locations within the park.'
Mr Richardson said the works behind the memorial prevented a form-up and march being part of this year's Anzac Day service but expected it to be sorted by next year.
He said he had attended services at the memorial since 1967 when it was originally on Great Eastern Highway.
'It was moved from the highway up into its present location because of the crowds that used to form up on Great Eastern Highway,' he said.
'When we moved up here and we placed the memorial in the gardens in approximately 1973-75, there was plenty of room in the forecourt for parades.
'People would march from the front of the memorial around and they would congregate in front of the memorial.'
The Faulkner Park revamp is expected to be completed in June.