New Thornlie tree protest

as posted here

Tree man Richard Pennicuik might have ended his protest by coming down from the eucalyptus melliodorain in his front yard on Friday - but the fight goes on.

Cameron Johnson, a Pennicuik supporter, telephoned media this morning to announce he had climbed the tree at 2am and was prepared - with the assistance of unnamed supporters - to stay up indefinitely.

He is in the tree with another man who lives near Mr Pennicuik's home. They said there were exercising their "constitutional right" to occupy the tree.

Mr Johnson said the tree did not pose a danger and Gosnells City Council should not cut it down.

"The council will have a pretty hard time getting that tree down," Mr Johnson said.

"There's more than one of us up there."

Mr Pennicuik ended his 110-day vigil up the tree on Friday afternoon. Within hours, Gosnells mayor Olwen Searle confirmed the council would proceed with its plan to cut the tree down.

Sporting a new Studio Italia suit, haircut and freshly trimmed beard courtesy of a Perth commercial radio station, Mr Pennicuik today said he would resume his position in the tree again but would not say whether he would stay for another lengthy sit-in.

"I'm not going to head up there at any time in particular, I'm just going to head up when I'm needed," Mr Pennicuik said.

"It could be anything, I'm prepared for anything, I'm just going to go to the doctor and make sure I'm fit and healthy.

Mr Pennicuik said the protest was "all about freedom".

Supporter James Dean said protesters in the tree would probably stay up indefinitely.

He said the group was basing its actions not on just the campaign to save the tree but a "constitutional challenge that councils are illegal".

The council had threatened legal action against Mr Pennicuik but it is unclear how it will respond to this new protest.


as posted here