A call by Georges River Councillor Nick Katris for a bond to be imposed to protect Moreton Bay fig next to the Sans Souci Bathers's Pavilion has been rejected.
The Georges River Local Planning Panel yesterday unanimously voted in support of an application by Georges River Council to demolish the pavilion at 10 Water Street, Sans Souci and for the subdivision of the site to create a new legal lot.
Cr Katris, an architect of 40 years, said it was essential for a bond to be placed on the tree to protect it from damage during any future construction on the site
"The Panel considers that it is essential that the Moreton Bay Fig is protected from any damage during any demolition," the panel summed up in its decision.
"To that end, suitable conditions have been imposed to require protection and retention of the tree."
Cr Katris said he was disappointed in the panel's decision adding that many residents were worried about the future of the tree.
"It really is important that we do put a bond on the tree," Cr Katris said.
"If there is any contract, the bond should be imposed on those who are undertaking the building on the site.
"I suggested to them that there could be a bond calculated using the recognised Thyer Method of valuation..
"I was hoping the amount of the bond would be in strict accordance with the findings of a qualified arborist.
"We don't want a paltry amount imposed on a tree that is 130 to 160 years old.
"But the panel didn't want to include a bond in any future conditions.
"I also wanted a condition that any future development be limited to the existing footprint and height of the pavilion that is there at the moment.
"This would project the foreshore, pay respect to the fact that it was a heritage building that has been demolished, maintain the amenity in regards to the vistas of the foreshore, and satisfy the residents' concerns about the future of the site.
"But the panel said these could be conditions of any future development application for the site and that there would be a revised Plan of Management for the area and these could be incorporated into that.
"The panel posed the question, if a bond is placed on the tree in what is a council development, if the tree is damaged during any future construction, then the council gets back its own money.
"My view is that we put the bond in place so that in any future negotiations on contractual engagements by the council with regards to construction of a new building, the bond would be transferred to the group carrying on the construction.
"This would be a significant deterrent from any damage being caused to the tree by the company."
Cr Katris said he will lodge a Notice of Motion at next week's council meeting nominating the Moreton Bay fig specifically as a heritage item in its own right.
