as posted here

Setback for 'tree man'

18/Feb/2010

By Jaime Shurmer, Comment News

Comments: 4 readers have left a comment

THE Heritage Council of WA will not register the gum tree at the centre of a suburban stand-off in Thornlie.

The decision, announced this morning, was made after Hume Road resident Richard Pennicuik's lawyer John Hammond lodged the application for heritage listing last week.

Mr Pennicuik (57) has been living in the tree outside his home since December 7 in a bid to have it saved from a City of Gosnells plan to rid the city of potentially dangerous trees.

Council executive director Graeme Gammie said the State Register of Heritage Places was reserved for places of significant cultural value to the State.

After a preliminary review of the application, both the Heritage Council's register committee and full board decided the tree was unlikely to enter the State Register so a full assessment was not warranted and the nomination would not progress further.

Only three trees are individually listed on the register, including the Proclamation Tree in Fremantle, which was planted in 1890 to commemorate the granting of responsible government to WA.

“The removal of trees in both the public and private domain is often an emotive issue, and is periodically of great community concern,” Mr Gammie said.

“However, these concerns most often relate to issues of local amenity and local cultural significance as is the case with the Thornlie tree.”

Mr Hammond said the Heritage Council's decision was disappointing and overly conservative.

"In Richard Pennicuik's view the tree does have cultural significance because of the protest," Mr Hammond said.

"The protest has had a State-wide audience and international audience and I would say more people have visited that tree than any other in WA."

His next strategy is to focus on getting the City of Gosnells to preserve the tree under it's Municipal Inventory.

Mr Hammond said a mulberry tree and orchards in the city were protected by the inventory.

"I would hope the council would look at it impartially without considering the issues they have with Richard," he said.

While he has not spoken to his client for a week, Mr Hammond said Mr Pennicuik intended to stay in the tree until it was protected.

as posted here