From the Mayor - 26 June 2024

Many councils, including Mosman, have made representations to the Premier and the Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe, urging the Government to increase penalties, and in seriously egregious cases, consider imposing a jail sentence for tree vandalism and unauthorised tree removal. 

I put forward a motion to the NSW Local Government State Conference to highlight our concerns and recently received feedback advising the Department of Environment was consulting on the matter but had made no real progress. Sadly, there was also no mention in the recently handed down NSW state budget of increased fine revenue for the wanton and criminal destruction of trees on public lands. The government states that before any policy change is considered, consultation with councils will continue, but in the meantime, I remain concerned that the destruction of our much loved tree canopy will continue unabated.   

Increasing housing supply was front and centre of the state budget with the government committing billions to build 8,400 homes, the biggest ever public housing investment in history. This reform is adjunct to the housing reforms already earmarked by the government.  Mosman has received a housing target of 500 additional dwellings for the five-year period, 2024-2029. Council has accepted the target as reasonable, but our principal concern remains the government’s proposal to move away from a long-term strategic planning process, which has been carefully constructed with input from the community and previous state governments. 

Council has consistently requested the State Government take into consideration the individual circumstances of the Mosman local government area when developing the low and mid-rise housing reforms that will have regard for matters such as heritage and environmental and amenity hazards such as increased traffic, biodiversity and canopy loss and infrastructure shortfalls, particularly sports field facilities. Council understands we need to ‘do our bit’ but is unanimous in its concern that the ‘one size fits all’ reforms will irrevocably alter the character of Mosman by allowing inappropriate development to flourish. As both these matters concern residents, I will keep you updated on all developments.

On a much lighter note, July is mid-year school holidays and the start of the 2024 Paris Olympics and together we all hope Australia’s athletes will shine in their individual and team endeavours.