23-07-2025
South Perth council votes to remove trees on public land after complaints about obstructed views
The City of South Perth will rip up six small trees planted last year on the Swan River foreshore parkland, after complaints they would eventually block residents' "million-dollar views" of the city skyline.
The council planted the saplings in Sir James Mitchell Park last winter, but on Tuesday night voted in favour of removing the trees on behalf of residents whose homes face the park and the city skyline beyond.
Speaking at the meeting, Cr Nic Coveney said residents on Jubilee Street were simply seeking to protect the value of their homes.
"What these residents are asking for is consistency to maintain a similar vista as to when they purchased their property," Mr Coveney said.
"They are not seeking to remove mature trees. They are seeking to move juvenile trees before they become mature and which they say were planted without any consultation.
"Whilst some may disagree, I don't think it's unreasonable to buy a house or an apartment on the foreshore with a significant view and have an expectation of maintaining that view.
"To do otherwise would deny the very real and direct effect of views on property values and amenities."
In the council agenda documents, the council staff said views were taken into consideration when the trees were planted and were positioned in alignment with the dividing property boundaries, not directly in front of properties.
It also said the species chosen would also help mitigate waterlogging, a problem that appears in the park for extended periods during winter.
Most of the young trees were expected to grow to heights of four to 10 metres, and one of the trees, a corymbia calophylla, could eventually grow to 15 — 30 metres tall.
Mayor Greg Milner was one of three council members to vote against the motion, telling the meeting many residents had voiced support for keeping the trees.
"Cr Coveney tells us that he's been contacted by over a dozen residents on Jubilee Street who are concerned about losing their million-dollar views of the Perth CBD skyline," Mr Milner said.
"But I do note that we've all received correspondence from many, many, many other residents.
Bronwyn David, co-convenor of the South Perth Tree Canopy Advocates group, slammed the council's decision.
"People might think, well, it's just six trees. What does six trees matter?" Ms David said.
"But it's the precedent. We are preferencing the views of a very small number of people over the whole of our community, which frankly needs more tree cover to survive.
Ms David was also critical of the waste of resources involved in the decision.
"It may be that we have just thrown away a lot of money in the City of South Perth, both in putting these trees in the ground to begin with, and then the labour and effort to remove them, find somewhere else and put them in the ground a second time, only to have them die."
The City of South Perth declined a request for comment.
