Mitcham Council: let's not worry about heritage
Mitcham Council is currently looking at a few items.
The first example is the River Red Gums on Flinders Ave.
A report was prepared for the removal of one of the river red gums because of concerns expressed that it might drop branches.
That report was supported by the Elected Members. BUT what consideration was given to heritage?
Read the report and see if you can find any.
http://www.mitchamcouncil.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/minutesAgendas/8%20March%202016%20Full%20Council%20Agenda.pdf
It went out to the surrounding householders for comment (as required) and it went to the State Government's Heritage Unit for their consideration. Contacting State Heritage is challenging (try to find a phone number for them!) and the Officer I spoke to refused to give any details apart from they had approved the trees destruction and flatly refused to say what heritage considerations were considered.
He also refused to give me the name of the person who was in charge of the Heritage Unit and that person's contact details.
Mitcham Council has been asked for details of what heritage significance was identified and deathly silence so far.
For anybody who is interested, and many local residents are (many thanks to them)
I have identified some resources, mainly held in the City of Mitcham's files, which show how significant the tree is.
Eucalyptus Trees - Reade Park (pdf download)
If Council staff don't know, they should ask!
It seems that the ample documentary evidence on Colonel Light Gardens is an inconvenient truth.
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Dr Christine Garnaut's popular book on Colonel Light Gardens has been reprinted. The book has a new Introduction which updates developments in the suburb since 1999.
