Thornlie tree protest heads to Heritage Council
BEATRICE THOMAS, The West AustralianFebruary 5, 2010, 2:00 pm
UPDATE: The ongoing saga of Thornlie's tree man has taken another bizarre turn with confirmation Richard Pennicuik is applying to have the tree heritage listed.
The application, to be lodged with the Heritage Council of WA, will be based on the tree's 40-year age and the cultural significance obtained as a result of Mr Pennicuik's 60-day protest.
Mr Pennicuik said the tree was culturally significant because it stood for free choice and saving the environment.
“I, and the tree, stand for free choice and all the people who know what it’s like to have something taken away from them,” he said.
Mr Pennicuik's lawyer, John Hammond, said he expected the application to be taken seriously "given the sentiment and controversy that surrounds the tree".
It will also buy some time because any building or structure cannot be touched while it is being assessed for heritage listing, though it is understood the Heritage Council plans a quick turn around on the application.
His wife Rose Malumbres, 55, said the application made use of another avenue to try to save the tree and did not demean the heritage process.
“What about trees that are 100 years old that haven’t been heritage listed, that’s frivolous,” she said.
Any listing on the State Register of Heritage Places needs to be of State significance.
Hundreds of trees form part of the State Heritage database but in most cases they are part of a broader listing of a place.
The council will have to carry out an initial assessment on the tree before making a decision.
Mr Hammond said he had also put an "open offer" to the City of Gosnells outlining that Mr Pennicuik would come down from the eucalyptus melliodora tree if it agreed to preserve it, a nearby tree and also erect a barrier around it.
The scene at the Pennicuik house is never dull.
Almost every driver who whizzes by has a few honks and throwaway comment for the “tree man”. Their contributions range from “go tree man” to “get down you idiot” and “you dole bludger”.
Mrs Malumbres said Friday nights gets especially rowdy because carloads of detractors pester her husband.
“But he has never come down,” she said. “I would sit through a lie detector test to prove that.”
A big crowd gathered outside Mr Pennicuik's Hume Road house for a "tree party" organised by a commercial radio station to mark the 60th day of the campaign this morning.
A bush band and sausage sizzle were put on as part of the celebration.
Tom, a neighbour who did not want his surname used, said the tree man was wasting his time.
“It hasn’t got the significance to be heritage listed,” he said. “The shire will get its own way. He should just give up with some grace.”as posted here
