A WOMAN has been arrested in an ugly turn for a Perth protest as a 57-year-old man prepared to spend a fourth night up a gum tree in an attempt to save it.
Police allege the woman punched a worker involved in a tree lopping operation in Hume Rd, Thornlie, Nine News said tonight.
Contractors for the City of Gosnells are in the street removing about 20 eucalypts considered dangerous.
Tree-sitter Richard Pennicuik told Nine he had bought his house because of the tree outside and would do everything in his power to save it.
When asked whether he would chain himself to the tree, however, Mr Pennicuik replied:
"No, I don't want to do that. That's ridiculous. I'm not an idiot."
Mr Pennicuik's son, Rhys, was among at least three other tree-sitters who had joined the protest, Nine said.
Contractors for the City of Gosnells are in the street removing about 20 eucalypts considered dangerous.
Tree-sitter Richard Pennicuik told Nine he had bought his house because of the tree outside and would do everything in his power to save it.
When asked whether he would chain himself to the tree, however, Mr Pennicuik replied:
"No, I don't want to do that. That's ridiculous. I'm not an idiot."
Mr Pennicuik's son, Rhys, was among at least three other tree-sitters who had joined the protest, Nine said.
Rhys Pennicuik said his father could be very tenacious.
"He doesn't look too brilliant but he's determined enough to stay up that tree for a bloody long time," he said.
The City of Gosnells has said it will not seek to remove Mr Pennicuik, but refuses to talk to him while he remains in the tree.
Reportedly 60 per cent of street residents were in favour of the yellow box gums being removed.
Mayor Olwen Searle told local newspaper Comment News yesterday that the safety of pedestrians and motorists was paramount because Hume Rd provided access to several schools, a church, playing fields, shops, the library and the pool.
The Hume Rd trees are the first to go under a Five Year Streetscape Redevelopent Program to replace dangerous trees with more suitable alternatives.
A gum tree dropped a limb onto the road in February last year, sparking community and council fears for public safety.
With Jaime Schurmer, Comment News
as posted here
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