Slam seedling plot neglect

Councillor Helen Hughes said she was “disgusted and upset” that after volunteers put in their time and effort to plant the seedlings and trees, little was done by Cumberland Council to maintain them and make sure they continued to blossom. Less than one per cent remain, according to a council report.
In fact, she said that while many had died, “the whole place has been completely mowed over, so there is nothing there that people had invested their time in doing”.
“It can only be described as disgraceful to see the lack of engagement and maintenance of those seedlings,” she said.
“It was extremely disappointing to review the area and see the lack of work, particularly given the interests and efforts of the local community.
“What is the purpose of these days if there is no follow-up for maintenance to ensure their longevity. We deserve better and we deserve quality.”
Residents came together at sites across Cumberland in July for Planet Ark’s National Tree Day, including at Central Park, Botanica Drive in Lidcombe, to help plant more than 2,000 native trees, shrubs and grasses. The other sites appear to be thriving.
The council said there were a range of factors that compromised the establishment of the seedlings, including warmer and drier than usual weather conditions, vandalism and suitability of the selected planting locations.
After Cr Hughes raised her concerns at the last council meeting, council’s general manager Peter Fitzgerald apologised to the many volunteers who took part.
He told the council “there is no other way to put this than to say that council has stuffed this up” but made assurances that everything was being done to make sure there wasn’t a repeat.
The council will plant 20 established gum trees in Central Park Lidcombe and hold a review of National Tree Day arrangements to prevent a recurrence.