Toronto Streetscape update

The $2.1 million Toronto Town makeover is moving along in the planned 50m stages with a projected completion date of December.

A service relocation problem, especially the Telstra pit, west of the Pemell St intersection has meant that section was delayed.

The LMCC team are currently working on Stage 4 east of Pemell St for 50m, where the retaining walls are currently being refurbished.

Stage 5 is due to commence in July- August, on the easternmost café precinct, as it’s less busy over winter.

Overall tree numbers have been reduced from 28 to 22 with a commitment from LMCC to try and get as many as possible in as they reduce heat and provide shade.

TASNG Tales

Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group

Pedestrian Perseverance

There’s been a huge win for the pedestrian folk in our community. The proposed installation of a crushed gravel path along Brighton Avenue between Ambrose St and Jarret Street has transmogrified into a 350m concrete footpath.

Last year TASNG was awarded a $8750 Community Building Partnership grant to trial a low tech gravel path as a model that could be rolled out around the non-paveable areas in our community. It turns out that this particular approach “will not meet Council requirements” but LMCC has kept their commitment to the project and upped the ante.

A concrete footpath will be installed in 2 stages over 2015-16 and 2016-17 financial years, the planning is in process to determine the best location and which side of the street.

The footpath will certainly meet the objectives of the grant by improving pedestrian safety for residents now and into the future as more single dwellings inevitably transition to medium density housing.

What are West Ward Issues?

Councillor Kay Fraser is interested in hearing about our local issues, such as footpath and cycling infrastructure in Western Lake Macquarie from various groups and interested community members. 

Kay has agreed to an informal chat with TASNG at 4.30 pm on Thursday 4th August at the HUB, The Boulevarde. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Toronto streetscape update presented to TASNG 8/6/16

• Work will start at the Victory Pde end and proceed in 50 m sections, eight weeks at a time. There will be no trees in the first section.
• 23 trees (Waterhousea floribunda) to be planted in purpose-built root boxes using 5 m advanced stock and with anticipated final heights of 10-15 m to create a green avenue. Garden beds will have ground covers.
• Two bus shelters are planned. 
• Bike stands are planed, some under cover e.g. by lower bus shelter.
• There will be Wednesday drop-in sessions 9-10am at the library from 22 June for interested community members and fortnightly updates to businesses.
• A coloured brochure is being prepared to be delivered to every household and main street businesses to overview the project, including dates.

Farewell Figs Welcome Waterhousea

The recent Toronto Streetscape presentation to the Toronto Chamber of Commerce shared the following.

• Due to significant wet weather, the five fig tree removals planned for 5/6/16 has been postponed until Sunday 10 July. There’s still time to take your memorial fig & family happy snaps. 
• Council crews are still anticipated to commence construction of new garden beds and footpaths 13th June, with work starting from the corner of Victory Parade and The Boulevarde. 
• Work will be undertaken in 50m sections with a projected timeline of 58 weeks of dry weather. 
• There will be 23 Weeping Lilly Pilly trees,(Waterhousea floribunda) that will replace the figs, they will be installed in Stratavaults, a system that allows for optimal root growth without impacting on infrastructure. 
• The Streetscape project is currently only funded for works on the southern side of The Boulevarde. The Toronto Chamber of Commerce (TCC) successfully applied for a Stronger Communities grant that will enable cleaning of the pavement and matching infrastructure to be installed on the northern side of the street, working with the Toronto Men’s Shed and local work skills projects. 
• Planned road works will follow on straight after the streetscaping project is completed. 
• The TCC will be requesting a community consultation process to discuss parking or traffic issues. 
• Local businesses will receive fortnightly updates and there will be a 1hr weekly drop in session at the library. 
• The 100 year old Hunter Water main in the middle of the road is still in good condition and won’t need replacing for another 20 years.

Toronto Streetscape Implementation Update

Two chances to hear from LMCC’s  Toronto Streetscape team about the final implementation plans for The Boulevarde. 

1. A business focussed presentation is on June 1^st at 6pm Diggers Club Downstairs Lounge- hosted by the Toronto Chamber of Commerce
2. A community presentation on June 8th, 5pm at The Hub hosted by the Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood (TASNG) meeting.

This will be the last opportunity to seek feedback before work operations commence. Please join in and have your say.

Toronto Streetscape Update

Community and business presentations on the Toronto Streetscape plan were delivered in March. The groups were advised that only the southern side of The Boulevarde would be upgraded. There is no funding for the northern side due to the unforeseen expenses associated with the water mains.

The works program includes the decommissioning of the 100 year old water main which runs down the middle of The Boulevarde and replacement of the 40year old water main adjacent to the footpath.

These major works will require the simultaneous removal of all the fig trees on the southern side. This will happen in May.

The streetscape renewal will start in July and be undertaken in 50m sections. It is forecast to take 12-18months to complete the process.

Why not take a memorial fig photo and share it on CPPA’s Facebook page.

The Toronto Streetscape Plan update

Presentations to update the community are being delivered by council officers on the streetscape plan for Toronto in early March.

A local business focused presentation for the Toronto Chamber of Commerce will be given on Wednesday 2/3/16 at the Diggers Club, Downstairs lounge, 6pm. All businesses welcome.

A community focused delivery will be provided at the Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group’s monthly meeting on Wednesday 9/3/16 at the Hub, 97 The Boulevarde at 5:30pm. This is a great opportunity to learn first hand about the streetscaping progress and to provide feedback prior to further community consultation. All welcome.

Who Gives a Fig?

The TASNG made a complete submission to LMCC on the draft Toronto Streetscape Master plan. This submission was endorsed by the Progress Association and an abridged version highlighting the comments about the Fig Trees has been included in this Chronicle. The full submission can be read on the Coal Point blogspot.

If you would like your feeling known about the future of the fig trees the local councilors are best option as the people’s representatives. Discussion about the Toronto Streetscape Plan are due at September council meetings.

The West Ward Councillors are 

• Daniel Wallace dwallace@lakemac.nsw.gov.au mob: 0429 610 290
• Ken Paxinos kpaxinos@lakemac.nsw.gov.au mob 0409 896 619
• Wendy Harrison wharrison@lakemac.nsw.gov.au mob 0409 775 432
• Rosmairi Dawson rokeno@lakemac.nsw.gov.au mob 0417 300 170

Street Trees:
We have some specific comments on the proposal to remove the large fig trees in the Boulevard.

We acknowledge the complex considerations that Council needs to weigh up. We understand that the plan to remove the figs is primarily based on the following reasons, in addition to more minor problems mentioned (e.g.bird droppings, taking up car park spaces):

1. costs of on-going maintenance to above- and below-ground infrastructure;
2. complaints by certain businesses2 about on-going costs of fixing blocked storm and sewer systems and the condition of specific paved areas; and
3. fear of litigation.

We suspect that Council may already be inclined to accept that removing the nine fig trees from the Boulevard is the most cost-effective way of dealing with the modernisation of the Boulevard. That is, cost may be the overriding consideration, even though a formal cost/benefit analysis has not yet been conducted, as far as we know. We hope that Council is open to considering alternative suggestions.

The greatest concern is obviously with the southside of the Boulevard. However, the Plan also calls for removal of trees on the northside of the Boulevard to improve strategic views to the Lake and the mountains. Whilst the views would no doubt be improved, we question the wisdom of much reduced tree cover on the northside, when shade is required on both sides of the Boulevard in summer.

Why are we concerned? Our concerns relate to the following:

1. Removal of all of the fig trees will result in a significant loss of biodiversity (including the abundant bird life, especially in the evenings), shade during summer months due to the extensive canopies, significant carbon sequestration opportunities presented by these large trees and other environmental benefits, visual amenity and cultural values.
2. Considerable variation in opinion exists as to what would be appropriate replacement tree species/varieties.
3. There has been inadequate assessment of the extent and degree of impact of fig tree roots on underground services such as storm water and sewer pipes, and how much the age and type (mainly earthenware) of these pipes has contributed to some observed issues.
4. The plan states '...there is no practical solution to the problems caused by the trees' extensive root system and canopies'. Although we were provided with some indications that remedial and protective works would not be easy, no conclusive evidence has been presented that they are not always impractical.
5. The plan refers to '...a staged replacement of all the Boulevard's existing fig trees....' When questioned at the MPCC Forum, Council officers were not able to indicate the length of time implied by 'staged', although an 18 month period was mentioned. Such a short period does not auger well for how the Boulevard will look in the short to medium term, even if advanced trees are planted.
6. There is apparently no plan to completely replace the ageing, existing storm water and sewer system along the southern side of the Boulevard, but only minimal remedial works in the immediate vicinity of the currently located fig trees... Has Council considered the likely impacts of the new trees on the ageing, underground infrastructure, or will root systems of each tree be contained and, if so, how will this affect above-ground tree size?
7.  … the advice from a consultant arborist is that the trees are healthy, they do not pose a public health risk and they can be adequately maintained for at least the next 15-40 years… The arborist has indicated that the degree of interference of roots in the storm water and sewer system is essentially unknown.
8. There doesn't appear to be an option provided for how the streetscape of the southern side of the Boulevard might be engineered if the figs were to be retained. For example, how much of the required fixing of specific paved areas near some of the trees is relatively low cost and  straightforward, and would allay fears of litigation?

We would, respectfully, suggest the following scenarios, in order of priority consideration by Council:

1.  Retain all the fig trees, including the weeping fig on the northern sideIn the words of the songwriter...'you don't know what you've got till it's gone...'.
2. Carry out strategic trimming of the canopies to reduce their physical above ground size with the potential to reduce root growth and likely impact.
3. Conduct a non-invasive assessment of the rooting patterns with respect to storm water and sewer pipes and the location and state of those pipes. Engage with Hunter Water as required.
4. Suggest how the streetscape work would be modified from the current plan if the figs were to be retained, with emphasis on both footpath amenity, underground services and other considerations.
5. Consult with other Councils (e.g. in Sydney, Wauchope) as to how they have dealt with older fig trees in streets and public places.
6. Remove only those figs which are deemed to be an unacceptable hazard.For each fig tree considered for removal, a clear assessment needs to be made available of why this is deemed necessary, based on physical, cultural, environmental and financial considerations. If only some of the fig trees are creating one or more problems (public/private) and cannot be fixed, then why consider removing them all?
1. If this is to be undertaken, then it should be on a staged basis over years rather than months, so that a replacement tree (s) has (have) time to grow before the next fig is removed. If this were to occur, we would like Council to consider some alternative replacement species, which are Australian natives, rather than an exotic.
7. Remove all of the fig trees
1. We understand that Magnolia grandiflora 'Exmouth' is favoured by Council, but we would respectfully suggestion that wider consultation is required on such an important issue. Some further suggestions for consideration include Elaeocarpus reticulatus (Blueberry Ash) or eumundi, Cupaniopsis anacardioides (Tuckeroo), Banksia integrafolia (Coastal Banksia) and Melaleuca quinquinervia (Broad-leaf Paperbark).

For all options we would like to see a cost benefit analysis. Should this not be a mandatory consideration in any decision made by Council?