Tree man wary of council offer
11/Dec/2009
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Friday, 3pm THE Thornlie man who has been living in a tree for the past week reckons “shorts and a hose” will see him through the soaring temperatures expected this weekend.
However, Richard Pennicuick is considering an offer by the City of Gosnells to meet in private with the city's chief executive and a mediator.City of Gosnells councillor Wayne Barrett today delivered a message from chief executive Ian Cowie to
Mr Pennicuick, who is living in the yellow box gum outside his home in a bid to save it from being lopped down.
The council is removing 20 similar trees from Hume Road because of their potential to drop limbs.
Mr Pennicuick's 16-year-old son, Riordan, also joined the cause in the adjacent gum today and is taking turns with mates and passers-by to sit in the second tree.
Cr Barrett said the chief executive wanted to meet Mr Pennicuick in a private location to discuss his concerns further.
He felt My Pennicuick received the offer positively.
But Mr Pennicuik said he was suspicious of the council's motives and feared being “nabbed” if he climbed down the tree.
He told inmycommunity.com.au on Friday that he would seek advice from his friends about whether to abort his treetop vigil to participate in the meeting.
His wife, Rose, made a rare appearance out the front of her home today to lend her support for her husband's cause from the base of the tree.
Mr Pennicuick, who had his first wash last night and has strapped on a harness for safety, said he was prepared to tough out the hot weekend from his perch and called down to his wife to go buy him some new shorts.
Mr Pennicuik said he was upset about an ugly incident yesterday during which a woman allegedly punched a worker involved in lopping trees further up the street and was arrested by Canning Vale Police.
“I don't even know who she is. That really made me upset that that happened,'' he said.
Mr Pennicuick said he did not personally like the attention his vigil was attracting but he thought it was great people cared about the environment.
as posted here
