31-05-2025
Couple's plans for their forever home in tatters after local council refused to cut down a single native tree for this absurd reason
A West Australian couple's plans for their dream home have been derailed after their local council refused to cut down a native tree over fears of 'reputational damage'.
The couple, from the Perth suburb of Alfred Cove, applied to the City of Melville to remove a Queensland Box tree so they could build a new driveway.
The homeowners have already spent $80,000 in preparation for previously-approved plans but can no longer move forward with their rebuild.
At its May meeting, Melville Council voted to reject the request, despite the tree standing directly in the way of the proposed driveway.
'City Officers have determined the tree to be in good health and fair condition with a full canopy of foliage,' the council stated in a report.
The mature tree was given a visual amenity valuation of $29,288, with officials citing its contribution to the streetscape as a key reason for preserving it.
However, the council's reasoning extended beyond the single native tree, focusing instead on the broader implications of its removal.
'A Council decision to remove a healthy tree may result in community opposition and reputational damage,' the report stated.
'This may set a future precedent requesting the removal of healthy trees.'
The couple said they were 'devastated' by the council's decision, especially after they offered to plant two mature trees to replace the boxwood tree.
'We have completely lost faith in the council's decision-making,' the man, who asked not to be named, told PerthNow.
'The councillors speaking against the tree weren't even informed.
'They were focused on the tree removal, not the total project, or that this was going to be our forever home to retire and age in.'
The vote to decline the application to remove the tree passed narrowly, with six councillors voting in favour and five voting against.
Despite acknowledging that the tree's removal would cost the city only around $1,000, council officers recommended keeping it.
They argued that removing verge trees could undermine the City of Melville's environmental goals, including its urban forest strategy.
'Verges are one of the key locations outside of parks and bushland areas where the City can protect and expand the urban forest cover,' the report stated.
In 2019, another WA local council, the City of Stirling, debated whether to phase out planting new Queensland Box trees, citing safety concerns.
The council noted that Queensland Box trees regularly drop hard seed pods onto footpaths and private properties, creating tripping hazards.
The town of Claremont has already stopped planting Queensland Box trees altogether and now recommends alternative species be used when one is removed.
