Five-star tree for Treeman

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RICHARD Pennicuik is spending his 24th day in a gum tree in Thornlie and says he is “living in the Ritz” thanks to a passer-by who installed a sleeping platform yesterday.

The 57-year-old man said this morning he felt “great” after a five-hour sleep and remained determined to keep up his vigil in the New Year.

He has refused to come down until the City of Gosnells promised in writing the tree would be exempt from a tree removal scheme that began earlier this month.

The council removed 20 gum trees along Hume Road in early December to improve public safety.

Mr Pennicuik said an offer by the council to retain the tree for three months before another review in March was not good enough.

“I will not do anything until I get it in writing the tree will be here permanently,’’ he said.

Christmas Day was spent talking to the media and taking calls from his family.

“I missed most of my family, they live on the east coast and I am the eldest of 10,” he said.

Mr Pennicuik has not opened Christmas presents from his family, saying they must still be under the Christmas tree in his house.

He opened small gifts from his support crew who are based at the bottom of the tree and help with his daily needs, including emptying his toilet bucket.

He was amused with the bell that one of the crew gave him so he could summons them.

His protest had attracted more attention than ever from the public, especially when the tree was illuminated to celebrate Christmas Day, he added.

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Call for whole beef industry to unite

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Kevin Armstrong outside his Maddington butcher shop, The Beef Shop.

BETH JOHNSTON

26 Dec, 2009 04:00 AM

BEEF producer and meat retailer Kevin Armstrong has called for an industry-wide conference to encourage communication along the beef supply chain.
Mr Armstrong, a beef farmer for 35 years at Boyup Brook, Benger and Kalgan, was inspired to open The Beef Shop after the 2007 beef crisis meeting.

"I came home from that meeting more confused than when I arrived," Mr Armstrong said.

"I said to my wife that if we want to keep going in this industry, we need to have a butcher shop."

So the Armstrongs purchased a wholesale butcher store in Maddington, hired a farm manager, and moved to Perth.

After spending $1.2 million and developing their own beef brand, Willowbank, the duo now process between 15-20 beef carcases per week.

Mr Armstrong said they had come a long way but it was a very hard business to be in.

Like many producers, he said prior to starting the business he thought butchers were making a fortune while beef producers did it tough.

"It's been a lot harder than we ever thought," Mr Armstrong said.

"I used to sit back on the farm and think that butchers have got it easy and were killing the pig, but that's not the case.

"My eyes have been opened.

"Now I invite farmers to come and have a look to help them understand the costs invovled with this side of the industry."

Mr Armstrong said the best thing that could happen for the beef industry would be a seminar-type function whereby everyone involved in the industry, right along the supply chain, attended.

"Farmers, butchers, chefs - everyone could attend and showcase what they're about so that the whole industry can come together and have a better understanding of where each other are coming from, from start to finish," Mr Armstrong said.

"At the moment the beef industry in WA is full of meat from the east because of the high Australian dollar.
"Some butchers buy it because they are trying to cut a profit but that's not why we got into this in the first place.

"We're new kids on the block and it takes a long time to get a good name.

"But we know we've got a quality product, it's just a matter of getting it out there."

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Tree man staying put for Christmas

SARAH QUINTON, The West AustralianDecember 25, 2009, 12:42 pm

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WA News / Ben Crabtree ©

Neighbours gathered around and passers-by honked their car horns as the so called Thornlie Tree Man spends Christmas day up a 30-year-old gumtree, despite the City of Gosnells guaranteeing they will not remove the tree for at least three months.

A letter was hand delivered to Richard Pennicuik on Christmas Eve, who has now spent his 19th day up the tree, stating that the City acted in a spirit of goodwill so Mr Pennicuik could spend Christmas Day with his family.

But Mr Pennicuik said the letter has only further stirred his anger, vowing to remain in the tree until he has a written guarantee that the tree will 'never be cut down'.

"I don't believe anything they (the city) say," he said as the mercury level soared toward 35C today.

"They said they would extend an olive branch to me, but I'm not coming down. If I come down, the tree will be cut down. If I stay, the tree will be saved."

Supporters of Mr Pennicuik have sent Christmas well wishes via a Facebook page, 'Thornlie Tree Man', which boasts nearly 5000 fans.

Mr Pennicuik said the community in the street have lifted his spirits with 35 people expected to share a Christmas lunch which would be passed up to him via a rope.

"I'm glad I'm up the tree doing something truthful," he said.

"I feel a real bond to the tree now and it's drawn all the neighbours together. It's like the old days when everyone looked after each other."

The City of Gosnells extended their offer after receiving a letter from Mr Pennicuik to enter into negotiations via an independent mediator.

"The City has said since day one of the protest that it would be willing to discuss the issues with the protestor when he comes down, but would not conduct negotiations from the base of a tree in a public street," the letter said.

"We believe our offers made in writing and in good faith, provide an opportunity for the resident to spend Christmas with his family."

The City also said it would not forcibly remove Mr Pennicuik from the tree and would be review the issue in March after the three month deadline expires.

Mr Pennicuik said he would also spend New Years Eve in the tree as a symbol of strength to his supporters around the world.

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The City of Gosnells and trees FAQs

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Why does the City want to replace Eucalyptus Melliadora in residential streets?
A number of Eucalyptus Melliadora were planted 40 years ago in residential streets. These are all the same species and age and were maintained in the same way. In recent years a number have shed limbs. As a result Eucalyptus Melliadora in streets are now assessed as being dangerous.
What evidence does the City have that the trees are dangerous?
A limb weighing over one tonne dropped into Hume Road last year, narrowly missing a car. On Sunday 13 December a limb dropped from another of the trees planted at the same time. It was over 12 metres long. At least one of the trees removed from Hume Road showed signs of imminent limb drop. These are just three examples of many incidents that the City has to deal with on an on demand basis.
Have people complained about the trees in Hume Road?
Yes. The City has had complaints about the trees from a number of different properties over a prolonged period of time This is a quote from a resident:

“I have two very beautiful trees on the side of my property which are to be removed this week. Whilst very sad that this trees are being removed it has to be done for safety. My outdoor entertaining area is adjacent to this verge and at least 2 or 3 times over the last 6 years I have heard the tree limbs crack and drop. Once a limb nearly caused a car accident. It was around 10 p.m. on a weeknight and I heard a great “crack” and then the limb fell, the next second a car slammed on its brakes hit the medium strip and keep left sign. This driver was visibly shaken and kept saying “It fell out of nowhere”.

“At least every 2nd year I have needed to contact you to request that you come and collect a fallen limb that I have dragged off the street, these limbs are really heavy and could cause a fatality in my opinion.”

Seventy per cent of Hume Road residents wanted the trees removed in 2004. However, a City assessment found them not to be dangerous at that time and refused to remove them. This decision was only reversed after the limb drop last year and a host of other complaints.

But why replace all the trees?
The trees are all the same species, planted at the same time and maintained in the same way. The evidence is they are all reaching the age where limb drops can occur.
Why can't the City lop or prune the tops of the trees to control them that way?

This is known as topping and is not an accepted method of pruning trees, as it creates large open wounds that increase the chance of pest, disease and fungal attack on the tree. This in turn leads to rot and decay beginning in that branch that can then spread into the main stem causing further weakening of the tree.
Further more the resulting regrowth (Which is known as epicormic growth) can have very weak attachments to the branch,  potentially resulting in further branch  loss as they  get bigger and are buffeted by the strong easterly winds that Gosnells experiences.
But trees are important to the environment and these are native trees.
The City has planted nearly 5500 trees in 2009 and removed just 190. The City only removes trees when they are potentially dangerous or interfering with infrastructure (such as roots growing through pipes for example). More trees will go into Hume Road than are being replaced.
Eucalyptus Melliadora is not native to Western Australia. Nor are these naturally occurring trees – they were planted.

What is the City doing about the resident sitting in a tree?
From the first day the City has offered to discuss the issue when the resident leaves the tree. The City has also guaranteed verbally and in writing that the tree will not be removed either before those discussions or while they take place.
Why won’t the City talk with the resident while he is in the tree?
Because that would not be the right way to have a serious discussion about the issue.
Why doesn’t the City just give the resident the written guarantee he is asking for that the tree will not be removed?
Because it would be wrong to do so. What if a limb fell next week or next month? The tree would then have to go and the City would be seen as having lied. The City is happy to have honest discussions but will not be dishonest in order to end the situation.
What will end the situation?
Only the resident can do that. The City has said all along it will not physically remove the resident from the tree. The City hopes he will come down soon as other residents in Hume Road are suffering major disruption to their lives.
The tree contractors have moved on from Hume Road.
Is the City just being stubborn?
No, the City represents 100,000 residents and its decisions have to be rational and benefit the majority. To leave potentially dangerous trees in place would be irresponsible. The City would rightly be heavily criticised if a limb fell and injured or killed someone.
The protestor has many supporters. Does this concern the City?
The City has received more correspondence from residents in support of its stance than against it. Many residents in other streets have urged the City to replace trees they consider dangerous.
So where to from here?
The City hopes the protest ends soon. The City would ask that all people, whether supporters or opponents of the resident, refrain from creating late night noise around the tree. Other people’s lives are being seriously disrupted by anti-social behaviour in the street from a minority of people.



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Police raid bikie club's Perth headquarter

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Police have raided the Gypsy Jokers bikie club house in Perth's southern suburbs.

More than a dozen officers and detectives from the Organised Crime Squad executed a search warrant at the Maddington clubhouse about lunch time today.

Some club members were inside the premises, assisting police with their inquiries.

The street where the clubhouse is situated was cordoned off.

Police have now left the clubhouse and say no charges have been laid and no property was seized.


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Gum tree stand-off continues

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Gosnells MLA Chris Tallentire has called for the stand-off to be resolved between the Gosnells council and a resident over a gum tree in Hume Road.

Mr Tallentire told Comment News last Wednesday that the two remaining gum trees on Hume Road should be retained unless specific expert evidence can show they were in imminent danger.

Twenty other gum trees along Hume Road were cut down because of their potential to drop heavy limbs.

Hume Road resident Richard Pennicuik and a team of supporters have protected two trees by literally living in them for the past fortnight.

Gosnells council has refused to talk to Mr Pennicuik while he remains in the tree and Mr Pennicuik has refused to come down unless the council talks to him face-to-face and promises the tree outside his home would be retained.

Mr Tallentire said the bizarre stand-off could have been avoided if the council had conducted better, more extensive consultation with residents about the removal of trees on verges. He said consultation was a challenge for all levels of government.

“Local government has got to do a better job of consulting about what people really want,’’ Mr Tallentire said.

“There needs to be good community consultation on what streetscaping should take place... jacarandas may look good in November, but aside from their flowering the benefits are limited.”

City of Gosnells chief executive Ian Cowie said the City believed the Eucalyptus Melliodora trees in Hume Road were dangerous to pedestrians and motorists following limb drops by trees of the same species and age. “In light of its concern about public safety, the City informed residents that the trees would need to be removed,” Mr Cowie said.

“Four residents provided comment to the City when they received this information, including one who specifically objected, who was then given further advice.

“As it has been said since the beginning of this process, the City will discuss the issue further with the resident when he leaves the tree and the tree will not be touched while discussions take place.”

Mr Cowie urged Mr Pennicuik to leave the tree and end what he said was a massive inconvenience to the other residents of Hume Road.

What Do You Think?

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Thornlie Skate Park on track for completion by Christmas

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The first stage of the City of Gosnells Thornlie Civic Precinct Revitalisation Project is due to be completed by Christmas.
Mayor Olwen Searle said the precinct was being redesigned to encourage positive behaviour and give better access to the Skate Park, Leisure World and the Thornlie Library.
“The installation of the skate park’s lighting, additional CCTV cameras, limestone walls and pathways is almost complete – with the shade shelter currently under construction,” Mayor Searle said.
“Renovation of the existing grassed area is also being carried out.”
Mayor Searle said funding was provided by the Commonwealth Attorney General’s department under the ‘Safer Suburbs Plan’.
“Upcoming events at the upgraded Thornlie Skate Park include skateboard and BMX coaching clinics with professional instructors – with skating from 10am to noon on 9 January 2010, and BMX from noon to 2pm on the same day,” she said.
“These clinics are suitable for all ages and skill levels, from seven-years-old and upwards, with participants only needing a helmet, enclosed shoes and a skateboard or BMX bike”.
“There will also be a free skateboard and BMX competition on 16 January 2010 from 11am to 4pm – with helmets, food, drinks and music supplied and great prizes from Folklore Skateboards and Jet Cycles.”
For more information call City of Gosnells Youth Services on 9452 9913.



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Maddington Woolworths Petrol Station Tanker Fire

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Treeman committed to continue vigil

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Thornlie man, Richard Pennicuick said he is only getting stronger and fitter as his one man protest to save a gum tree outside his house entered its 12th day today.

Speaking to thewest.com.au, Mr Pennicuick, 57, said there was no end in sight to his protest and he will continue camping in the tree until the Gosnells Council gave him a commitment in writing that the tree would be saved.

"I am feeling great. I am doing more exercise here on the tree than I would normally do in the house. I can definitely keep on going but for how long I don't know. But it does look like I am going to be spending Christmas in the tree," he said.
Mr Pennicuick took up residency in the tree two Monday's ago in a last ditch effort save the tree outside his house - just one of the last two of 22 Gum trees that once stood on Hume Road.

He said that his protest was gaining momentum and in the past few days has been visited by scores of people who have shown their support.

"A couple flew all the way in from Sydney to hello and in the last few days I have had visitors from India and South Africa who video taped me. There is a huge groundswell of support," he said.

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Thornlie Trees to get the chop

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Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes 15 December 2009
9
∗ Ms. Hilda Potschick of 17 Ravensden Street, Thornlie asked the following
questions:
Q 1 Can the Council provide me with the street names and proposed dates
where Council intends to remove more trees?
Q 2 Can Council provide me with copies and the compilers names of all
surveys made/being made by tree specialists commissioned by Council
to recommend all tree removals in the City?
Response: The Mayor advised that the City was not removing all of the
trees, only specifying which ones the City has been advised to take
down. The Mayor further advised that all of Ms.Potshick questions
would be taken on notice and responded to in writing.

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Limb fall underlines City stance

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Limb fall underlines City stance

A 12 metre long limb which fell yesterday from a Eucalyptus Melliadora in Gosnells will be removed tomorrow by City staff.

The tree is the same species as one being occupied by a resident in Hume Road, Thornlie. The safety of Eucalyptus Melliadora was reviewed last year after a limb weighing over a tonne dropped into Hume Road, narrowly missing a car.

This led the City to commence a replacement program which will see 22 trees replaced with 35 new ones in Hume Road as part of a five year process across the City.

City Chief Executive Officer Ian Cowie said the latest limb drop was an example of why the trees were being replaced.

“As the City keeps saying, Eucalyptus Melliadora is unsuitable for street verges because they are dangerous. We are relieved no serious damage was done when this latest limb drop occurred – it is estimated the latest limb weighed in excess of a tonne.”

The City has consistently offered to meet the resident who is occupying the tree once he comes down. The City has also repeatedly said that the tree will not be removed before those discussions are held. The City’s position has been confirmed in writing to the resident but he has not left the tree.

Work in Hume Road has now concluded until the issue of the two occupied trees is resolved.



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Boy partially disembowelled in accident

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ALEISHA PREEDY
December 16, 2009 - 4:49PM
AAP

A four-year-old West Australian boy is recovering after being partially disembowelled when he sat on a swimming pool skimmer box.

The boy was in the pool at his home in Gosnells, in Perth's southeast, when the accident happened on December 5, the WA Department of Consumer Protection division says.

He sat on the skimmer box, a filtering device on the edge of the pool which removes leaves and dirt from the water, and the suction of the pool's filter pump damaged a portion of his small and large intestine.

He spent a week receiving treatment at Perth's Princess Margaret Hospital and is now recovering at home, but will require the use of a colostomy bag for several months while his injuries heal.

The consumer protection department issued a warning about the danger of pool equipment on Wednesday, following an inquiry into the incident.

Consumer Protection Commissioner Anne Driscoll warned owners of older-style swimming pools, installed prior to 1988, to check skimmer boxes cannot be accessed by children.

"In older-style pools these skimmer boxes look like a seat or potty that a child can easily sit in unless there is a physical barrier or the lid is permanently secured down," Ms Driscoll said.

"If children sit in a skimmer box it can cause horrific injuries and even death.

"It's important that skimmer boxes have a safety skirt or lid installed which is a vertical barrier preventing children from sitting on the box and that the lid is securely fixed and can only be removed with tools and not by hand."

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Bushfire flares up in Martin

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UPDATE: Fire crews are on the scene of a bushfire in Martin, that started on the eastern side of Tonkin Highway.

The fire, reported at 3.30pm this afternoon, is burning between Rushton Road and Quarry Road

The fire has now been contained but motorists are asked to avoid the area if possible and reduce speed, drive carefully and be mindful of emergency services crews working in the area.

FESA has issued a bushfire warning for residents in the area.

No homes or lives are currently threatened by the fire.

People living in the area should close all doors and windows, turn off evaporative air-conditioners (but keep water running through the system) and watch for signs of fire.

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Police probe Gosnells party brawl

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Police are investigating a brawl involving about 30 people at a party in Gosnells on the weekend in which a 20-year-old suffered severe facial injuries.

A police spokesman said that officers had been called to a fight between party goers and gate crashers at the party on Nullagine Way near Swingler Way in Gosnells.

When police arrived they had found about 30 drunken revellers spilling out of the party on to the street. A 20 year-old Gosnells man, an invited guest at the party, was injured when he wrestled with another man and was hit on the head with a solid object, possibly a cricket bat.
He was taken to Armadale Hospital and then transferred to Royal Perth Hospital.

He suffered fractures above and below his left eye, a fracture to the right side of his forehead causing bleeding and swelling to his brain, a broken nose and a broken finger.

Anyone with information on the assault is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.


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Knife, scythe used as weapons in violent WA night

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NATASHA POVEY

December 13, 2009

A young Bunbury man has been stabbed and Maddington liquor store clerk was threatened with a scythe overnight, police report.

A man from Bunbury received multiple stab wounds after a verbal and physical confrontation with another person in the early hours of this morning in the south-west town.

His injuries were not described as life threatening.

Police have taken a person of interest into custody following the stabbing and charges are expected to be laid later this morning.

In a separate incident in the metropolitan area a 44-year-old man has been arrested after threatening staff at a Maddington liquor shop with a scythe, police said.

Around 8:30 last night the man entered the BWS liquor store on Albany Highway.

After being refused service several times he pulled the weapon out and began threatening staff, police said.

Police were called and no one was injured.

And in a third violent event a 32-year-old man was brought to hospital in a serious but stable condition after a brawl in the city, police report.

Police claim the man had been part of a group on a charter boat who began fighting and continued the brawl after the boat docked at Barrack Street jetty around 9:30 last night.

Police responded to the call and found the man with serious neck injuries.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact crime stoppers.

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Thornlie Tree Man

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Thornlie Tree Man 

Finally someone in this state is taking a stand (or a sit) for what they believe in. Sure he sounds nuts, but my sister & friends are all off to see him on thurs, quite possibly dressed as trees and baring cookies.

His son said ”He doesn’t look too brilliant but he’s determined enough to stay up that tree for a bloody long time.” We need more politicians like this :p

Still, we are staying right away from his bucket…

@15 hours ago
#protest, #thornlie tree man #though #news #oddspot #offbeat


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FESA probe Maddington service station fireball

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EMERGENCY services investigating the Maddington petrol tanker explosion have described it as a "lucky escape'' from a potentially fatal disaster.

FESA continue to investigate the cause of yesterday’s fuel tanker explosion, which sent a massive fireball into the sky when a petrol tanker exploded as it was filling an underground tank at a service station on Albany Highway.

Homes had to be evacuated and local roads and shops closed as a massive fireball shot into the air while a tanker was stationed at the Caltex-Woolworths fuel outlet  about 1.45pm on Friday.

Picture Gallery: Amazing images from the petrol blast

FESA operational services officer Paul Ryan said the exact cause of the blaze was yet to be determined.

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“At this stage, we can ascertain that during the driver transferring unleaded petrol from the tanker to the ground tanks, there was some sort of ignition, and the fire commenced,” he said.

Officers from FESA’s Fire Investigation Unit, Arson Squad, and the Dangerous Goods Division of the Department of Minerals and Petroleum were working to determine the cause of the fire.

Mr Ryan said crews from Maddington Fire Service and Welshpool were first on the scene to treat the initial fire, before a massive fireball shot out when the fuel tank ruptured.

“On arrival, the guys found some tyres had started to ignite and some of the fuel areas around the garage had started to burn, so they started to cool the tank,” he said.

“The tank started to bulge a little bit and started pressurising, (and) the guys then backed off from that area.

“The side of the tanker which was facing the service station then ruptured.”

Mr Ryan praised the efforts of the fire crews at the scene in placing water on the side of the tank to keep the strength of the aluminium in place, preventing further damage.

“If they hadn’t have done that, there was a possibility it may have failed, and taken some of our crews… so it was very good fire fighting by our personnel,” he said.

“If they hadn’t done such a good job, we would be looking at something quite different, with the possibility that all the tanks could have ruptured.

“It was very lucky we didn’t have anybody lost.”

The fireball erupted after two of the tanker’s six compartments failed due to the initial fire, affecting 15,000 litres of the 40,000 litres of unleaded petrol on board.

Mr Ryan said the tanker’s driver was “very shocked and upset” but not injured in the blaze.

The fire is estimated to have caused $2 million damage.

Despite initial fears affected wastewater would seep into nearby rivers, Mr Ryan said environmental teams had set up a small dam soaking system to ensure the Canning River would not be affected.

The environmental cleanup will continue throughout Saturday.


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Tree man ready for Christmas Day vigil

LEE RONDGANGER, The West AustralianDecember 15, 2009, 7:15 am

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WA NEWS / Astrid Volzke ©

Thornlie man Richard Pennicuik, who has been living in a gum tree outside his home as part of a one-man protest to stop the council from cutting it down, said he planned to spend Christmas in the tree.

"It is not something I want to do, but I will if I have to," a defiant Mr Pennicuik said yesterday.

Mr Pennicuik, 57, who was preparing to spend his eighth night in the tree, turned down another offer by the City of Gosnells for a private meeting to end the feud yesterday.

"I don't want a private meeting with them," he said. "This is not the Dark Ages, if they want to talk they can come right here and we can have a chat. I am not going to be bought."

Mr Pennicuik took up residency in the tree last Monday in a last-ditch effort to save the tree.

Bill Beckenham, who lives in the area, said he was concerned for people's safety if the tree was not cut down.

"If a car passed by and a tree fell on it, people could be seriously injured," he said. "I don't support what he is doing."

Therese Keeley, 21, and her sisters Laura and Elise travelled from Mt Claremont to deliver a plate of cupcakes to show their support.

Mr Pennicuik said he would only come down the tree if the council gave him a commitment in writing that it would be saved.

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Gosnells tree drops one-tonne limb

15/Dec/2009

By Jaime Shurmer, Comment News

Comments:

FEARS for public safety have been reignited after a 12m branch fell from a eucalyptus melliadora in a Gosnells street on Sunday.

The tree is the same species of gum that Thornlie man Richard Pennicuik has been seeking to protect for the past week.

Mr Pennicuik climbed into the gum tree in Hume Road last Monday, while contractors moved in to cut down 20 other gums along the street as part of a five-year strategy to rid the city of dangerous or damaged trees.

The strategy was finalised after a branch weighing over a tonne fell onto Hume Road in February last year.

The 12m branch is expected to be removed by the council's staff today.

City chief executive Ian Cowie said the latest incident was an example of why the trees were being replaced.

“As the City keeps saying, eucalyptus melliadora are unsuitable for street verges because they are dangerous,” he said.

“We are relieved no serious damage was done when this latest limb drop occurred. It is estimated the latest limb weighed in excess of a tonne.”

Mr Pennicuik has refused to get down from the tree, despite the council offering him a private meeting with the chief executive and a mediator.

He is seeking a guarantee that the tree will be retained.

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