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ISSUES - Weston Park

Weston Park tree removal

On Sunday 18 July, a group of YRA members met an independent arborist, and a representative from TAMS (Territory and Municipal Services), to walk around sections of Weston Park, and look at some of the trees that are scheduled for removal over the next few weeks, before bird nesting season.

Mr Geoff Butler, the arborist, explained that there have been three stages of tree planting in the park, the first by Charles Weston, the second by Lindsay Pryor, and then more random plantings in the 60s and 70s. In general, he stated that most of the hundreds of trees are in good condition, but inevitably some are dead or dying, and need to be replaced. Over the last 12 months, there have been three assessments of the Park trees by three different arborists, to determine which trees can be saved by judicious pruning, where some perhaps can be lopped to retain possum or bird hollows, and where some must be removed (labelled on the trunk, and many close to the play area).

He pointed out to the group the places where a branch fork has split and weakened, allowing in fungal infections, showed us tree trunks hollow inside (though not visible to the eye), and the bracket fungus on a trunk that results in soft, weak spongy tissue up to two metres in either direction from the 'bracket'. The tree may still have healthy growth on top, but this belies its weak dying trunk which will not continue to support it.

The group enjoyed learning from Geoff's expertise and knowledge, and appreciated that both he, and Fleur Flanery from TAMS, gave up their own time on a cold foggy Canberra morning to tell us more about our trees, and the tree management program.

Weston Park Master Plan

Parks, Conservation and Lands (PCL), within Territory and Municipal Services has recently commissioned a study to develop a new master plan for Weston Park.

As part of this exercise they have engaged with a number of community organisations to gather feedback that can then form part of a draft proposal that will be put forward at a public meeting for all to comment and provide feedback for the final Master Plan.

Two representatives for the study came to seek views from the YRA. Click here to see YRA responses.

A public meeting was held on Saturday 8 November 2009,in Weston Park to seek community views. There were about 20 people in initial attendance at the 2 hour long consultation, where the draft plan was presented by James Hayter.

Other people came during the 2 hour session, and many suggestions and comments were collected by TAMS and other staff there.

The plan is well presented and easy to follow.

The consultants preparing the Master Plan will take into account the responses of people to the Draft Plan, so if you like something, tell them. If you dislike something, tell them.

Some key points of the plan are:

· A lakeside loop path (pedestrian)

· New round-a-bouts

· Interpretive Education Centre

· Amphitheatres

· Boardwalks over the water

· Pedestrian Bridge to Black Mountain

· Public access productive gardens

· Keeping the government nursery

· Keeping the commercial nursery

· Keeping Hobday’s cottage

· Foreshore kiosk

· Wetlands

· Event spaces

· Car parking areas

· Much extended road systems and loop roads within the park

· Beach upgrade

· Toilets

· Trails

· Existing Siev X memorial

· Signage strategy

· Park furniture

· Play spaces

To view the draft Master Plan and to find out how to provide comments, go to the TAMS web site here. The consultation period for the draft plan ended on 8 December 2008. There will be further consultation on the final Master Plan. Keep watching the TAMS website here.

• Draft Masterplan final consultation opportunity

TAMS (Territory and Municipal Services) has presented a final master plan for the upgrading and maintenance of Weston Park. This is available at all ACT public libraries and on their website (click on the 'get involved' link on the TAMS homepage).

TAMS officers held a short public information session at Yarralumla shops on Saturday 27 June, and a more extensive public meeting about the plan will be held at the Albert Hall on Monday 27 July between 5.30pm and 7.30pm.

Many residents feel strongly about some aspects of the plan, so the YRA urge you to look at it, and respond to TAMS, either by their questionnaire online, or by mail to:
TAMS, GPO Box 158, Canberra ACT 2601

We are pleased that, following the strong recommendations of the YRA and other people, the

CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSIONS HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 2 AUGUST 2 2009

Floriade

The YRA issued a media release on 15 October 2007 expressing its
opposition to new proposals to site Floriade in Weston Park.

The YRA received advice from the ACT Government that Weston Park will not be considered as a future site for Floriade. More...