As reported in the Sydney Morning Herald, the devastating impact of the 10/50 clearing code is being felt right across the state with councils from Ballina to Bankstown and Wollongong to Wyong raising substantial concerns with the Rural Fire Service:
Picture by Michael Bianchino
Sydney councils are investigating at least one case a day of residents using the new 10/50 rule to cut down trees to improve their view or ease development.
At least 20 metropolitan councils and some rural councils have lodged submissions with the Rural Fire Service protesting at the environmental damage being perpetrated under cover of the new rule.
The 10/50 code allows the clearing of trees within 10 metres – and lesser vegetation within 50 metres – of homes in bushfire-prone areas without council permission.
A coalition of environmental groups, including the Lane Cove Bushland and Conservation Society, Save Little Manly Foreshore Inc, Beecroft-Cheltenham Civic Trust and Mosman Parks and Bushland Association, protested against the new law outside the Manly office of Premier Mike Baird.
A report on council submissions to the RFS, obtained by the Greens under freedom-of-information laws, reveals that heritage-listed trees in Blue Mountains villages have been removed; residents are using proximity to swimming pools and neighbours’ homes to cut down trees; and wildlife and their habitat are being destroyed on a large scale.
Councils are concerned that the 10/50 rule overrides the Threatened Species Conservation Act and tree preservation orders. Mosman Council has sought an exemption from the code as more than 100 trees have been cut down – “not one of them because of bushfire risk”. Lane Cove Council has called for an exemption for all inner metro areas.
“These documents show that the government and RFS have comprehensively failed to address the key problems that local councils are facing,” Greens MP David Shoebridge said.
“Councils are being forced to monitor a code they do not support and without any additional funding or resources.
“With no credible scientific support for the 10/50 code and local councils in near open revolt, the government should immediately place a moratorium on this damaging law. Councils have lost almost all autonomy and are being run over by the bloody-minded, one-size-fits-all approach of the 10/50 code.”