By NIKKI TODD
THE spectacular entry to Pottsville’s Seabreeze Estate will be dramatically altered after Tweed Shire Council resolved to fell the weeping figs lining the eastern entry to the suburb.
Councillors also agreed to redesign the water feature at the same entryway to allow it to be fed by stormwater instead of town water, effectively meaning it will not be restored to its former glory.
The decisions were made following a report presented by council officers at the last council meeting on September 19 in which staff outlined the damage the 11-year-old figs were inflicting on the surrounding road surface and cycleway along Seabreeze Boulevard.
While acknowledging the attraction of the trees, staff found the ongoing damage to the roadway to be unacceptable.
“As the trees continue to grow, this damage will become worse and require ongoing repairs, potentially making the road unusable in the future,’’ the report said.
“Removal of trees is generally a last option for council, but is considered that in these circumstances this provides the best long term outcome for this site.’’
The report further found the spreading figs were also impacting on the growth of the spectacular hoop pines which line the central median strip of the entryway.
Councillors agreed to a recommendation to remove the figs and replace them with less intrusive tuckeroo trees – the same trees which line the newer, western entryway to the estate.
They further agreed to consult the community over plans to divert stormwater into the adjacent waterway, to eliminate the need for town water.
Council will allocate $27,500 to the diversion plan, while the estate’s developer Metricon has agreed to contribute an additional $7500 to the project.
Pumps to the waterway were turned off months ago and the popular feature – which includes a stream, waterfalls and a pond – allowed to dry up.
Seabreeze Blvd resident Joe Dillon said he was bitterly disappointed over both the decision to disconnect the water supply and cut down the trees.
“Imagine cutting down all of those fig trees and nobody knows anything about it!’’ Mr Dillon said.
“And this pond has been enjoyed for years by many children and grandchildren of residents who got great pleasure out of feeding the ducks and catching tadpoles.’’
He said the feature was also popular with the elderly residents of the nearby BUPA aged care facility who enjoyed watching the birds and fish from the rotunda.
Mr Dillon said he did not believe the stormwater option would be much good, particularly in dry weather conditions such as currently being experienced where no water is running in the stream and the pond has almost dried up.
Another Seabreeze resident Sherry Smith said she and her young family had spent countless hours enjoying the pond.
“The boys loved to feed the ducks and eels, we spent so much time down there,’’ Ms Smith said.
“We called Tweed Council numerous times to complain about the pump breaking down. We want the waterway restored to its original condition, it’s a major attraction of the estate.’’
A council spokesman said the community would be consulted over both decisions.
