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weekender the western
Friday, April 7, 2023
PENRITH’S #1 NEWSPAPER
www.westernweekender.com.au
Follow what’s on the box for free! Pages 60-61
LOCAL EASTER SHOW HOPEFULS READY TO FLY THE FLAG FOR PENRITH
SHOW AND TELL From cattle parades to woodchopping, the Royal Easter Show is about more than just rides and showbags. We meet some of the competitors who are representing the area at this year’s event. Cassidy Pearce reports on pages 6-7
Brittany Jones. Photo: Melinda Jane.
ICONIC TREES COME DOWN IN ACT OF “DEVASTATING DESTRUCTION”
SAFETY NOT PROGRESS EMILY FESZCZUK
T
ransport for NSW denies that a row of famous trees on Mulgoa Road have become victims of progress, saying pedestrian safety and not the road’s upgrade is why they’re being cut down. After years of fighting, the battle to conserve the rows of trees known as Grey Gums was
lost this week as the chainsaws began to cut them down on Monday morning. While the removal coincides with the start of the next stage of the project to widen the road, public safety is being touted as the reason, but conservationists believe it is an act of “devastating destruction”. President of Mulgoa Valley Landcare Group Lisa Harrold, who advocates for the local environment, said she is sad that the commu-
nity will lose the towering trees as part of the upgrade work. “This avenue of eucalyptus trees has been a landmark for the communities of Penrith for generations, in fact, they pre-date colonisation and some are estimated to be over 350 years of age,” Harrold said. “They have offered beauty amongst the concrete and bitumen; they have offered shade and they have offered habitat.”
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“A solution to preserve them would have required the compulsory acquisition of 25 properties on the other side of Mulgoa Road but as expected, the cost saving of at least $50 million has meant that the trees must go.” A Transport for NSW (TfNSW) spokesperson confirmed work had begun to remove nine trees in total to access five hazardous trees between Wolseley Street and Blaikie Road. Story continues on » p. 3