Milkwood tree battle continues
During a public participation meeting residents insisted that the hotel plan their development around the trees, but were told that it was not feasible option.
TENSIONS mounted at a public participation meeting at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Wednesday last week regarding the planned expansion and refurbishment project along McCausland Crescent.
The development, which involves the potential culling of eight protected red milkwood trees and one white milkwood tree, has received numerous objections from the community.
According to the ecological assessment review (EAR) requested by Tsogo Sun, the holding corporation, at least one of the trees ‘appears to be relic in nature’.
However, the EAR also determined that the site had low ecological significance, as it constitutes as a ‘gardenscape’. “The trees in their present position and state are in effect isolated ‘garden’ or ‘horticultural’ specimens, and as such do not play a significant role at a plant community level,” said Simon Bundy, the specialist ecologist who conducted the EAR. Two species of bats – the banana bat and the little free tailed bat – were also recorded at the site.
The EAR, however, mentions that they are not listed as endangered and the disturbance of the roost would not be fatal to the colony, as long as the construction was done after the bats’ pups have been weaned.
During the meeting some residents insisted that the hotel plan their development around the trees, but Sarah Allan, the environmental assessment practitioner, responded, saying it was not feasible as the incorporation of the trees would not allow for the planned construction of a two-level basement parking lot.
Suggestions were also made to relocate the old indigenous giants, but Bundy said the age of the trees made successful relocation difficult.
Before the trees can be cut the hotel would have to receive a permit from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. “One of the conditions upon receiving the permit is to replace each of the trees that are destroyed with two or three trees of the same species,” said Allan.
In addition to the parking lot, 130 guest suits, various restaurants, a conference centre and a spa treatment centre have been planned as part of the development.
According to Allan, the likelihood of all of the Milkwood trees being removed was remote, as only several of the trees lie within the boundaries of the planned construction. “We will be taking every precautionary to save as many of the trees as possible. The ones at the bottom of the property are likely to stay. We planned for the removal of all of the trees for transparency,” she added.
The deadline to submit any objections to the development has been extended to 13 July.
Contact Sarah on sarah.wine@iun capped.co.za.
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