Perth Voice Interactive

BAYSWATER local Greg Smith bore solemn witness as the Halliday Park trees he’d fought to protect were cut down and fed to a woodchipper this week.

The town planner had argued with the council that the park’s heritage listing also protected its trees, ranging from 80 to 120 years old.

But mayor Sylan Albert says the trees’ age had made them dangerous so they had to go.

As the trees were cut into pieces, Mr Smith pointed out healthy trunk revealed by the cross section.

The self-described dendrophile says trees are important for mental health, cool their surrounds and act as food and habitat for fauna.

At Tuesday’s council meeting he faced down Cr Albert, asking if rumours were true that a local tree lopping firm gave city staff a carton of beer as kickback for each tree declared to require chopping down at ratepayer expense.

The question was not answered, with the mayor instead insisting Mr Smith resume his seat, saying he’d asked too many questions (it had been a long question time).

The council reckons it’ll replace the trees, but Mr Smith doubts they’ll be anywhere near as large.

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GREG SMITH says his scrutiny of tree-fellers coincides with trouble in  his quiet suburban street. 

On the day contractors showed up, Mr Smith attempted to take a photo of a vehicle to record the company name and licence plate. He claims the driver reversed at him threateningly. He immediately reported the incident to Bayswater police. 

On Tuesday morning he awoke to find the fog light on his car had been smashed. He describes the timing as a little suspicious, occurring the day after he’d called in the media to come and record workers felling trees.

by DAVID BELL