A Red Bean mahogany tree* that is estimated to have stood on the floodplain before the first British-European set foot in the Clarence Valley is no more and no amount of local government mea culpas will ever bring it back.
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| 200 year old Red Bean Scar Tree after 2013 lopping: Image The Daily Examiner |
The Daily Examiner, 20 September 2018, p1:
A former Clarence Valley
mayor has publicly apologised for the removal of a culturally significant tree from
a Grafton street, which has the potential to cost the Clarence Valley Council
$1.1million.
At Tuesday’s council
meeting, Cr Richie Williamson unreservedly apologised to the Aboriginal
community for the removal of a scar tree over a period from 2013
to 2016, when he was mayor.
The council was
discussing a response to a Land and Environment Court case in which the council
had pleaded guilty to removing the remains of a scar tree on the
corner of Breimba and Dovedale streets in 2016.
The history of the tree’s removal
over that time is a record of council bungling, which had already cost the
council $1500 for breaching the National Parks and Wildlife Act.
In 2013 council staff
lopped the crown of the tree after an aboriculture inspection found
the tree to be in poor condition.
In response the council
provided staff with training in dealing with items of cultural significance to
Aboriginal people, introduced staff to the Office of Environment and Heritage’s
handbook on scar trees, tightened up procedure to ensure approval and
assessments were completed and preparation of a Clarence Valley Aboriginal
Heritage Study.
Despite this, three
years later council staff completely removed the tree without approval
from higher management, provoking an OEH investigation that has led to the Land
and Environment Court case, which is ongoing.
During the debate, Cr
Williamson addressed the meeting to tell of his deep embarrassment on behalf of
the council and personal and deep sadness at the actions that led to the
removal of the tree.
“I met with a number of
Elders who were deeply, deeply hurt by the action of the council,” he said.
“I also recall it was
around the time of NAIDOC Week and it was very sad for them and the hurt was
clearly displayed on their faces.”
Cr Williamson said the
destruction of the tree should never have happened and he remained
remorseful for the actions of others.
“I’m sure we all in this
chamber would expect and are striving for better within our organisation,” he
said.
“We have come some way,
but clearly we have a long way to go.”
The council voted
unanimously to support an apology to the Aboriginal community and other
measures.
* The red bean or Miva mahogany is a rainforest tree in the mahogany family, Meliaceae. Dysoxylum mollissimum subsp. molle occurs in tropical, sub-tropical and littoral rainforests in eastern Australia, as far southwards as north-eastern New South Wales.
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