Boral choosing to cut down a Bangalay tree, at least 100 years old, yesterday - on Threatened Species Day - has horrified people who have been campaigning against the expansion of its sandmining operations across the highway to the land surrounding Dunmore House.

“For the sake of eight months’ worth of sand mining, a healthy monarch has been lost forever,” says the chair of Friends of Minnamurra River, Will Chyra.

“Boral could have saved this tree if they had an environmental conscience.”

The tree during its felling

The tree was the only Bangalay on the first site that is being prepared for sandmining, opposite Minnamurra Recycling Centre, and was close to the fenceline.

Will was told that it was being removed to provide truck access to the site.

“I asked whether it was more appropriate to move the gate rather than cut the tree down.

“Bangalays only develop hollows after 100 years, and I was told me there were three in the tree and one on the ground so it is probably much older.

“Relocating the cut down hollows doesn’t make up for cutting down the tree.” 

Bangalays are the dominant tree species of the Bangalay Sand Forests of the Sydney Basin and the South East corner of NSW bioregions, which were recognised by the State Government in 2005 as an endangered ecological community. The hollows provide habitat for local wildlife, importantly Greater Gliders, which are also endangered.

A spokesperson from Boral has provided this response: “Tree clearing is permitted on site under the development consent issued in November 2020 by the NSW Government.  The tree was removed to allow heavy vehicle access to the site and was located in the disturbance footprint of the project. The location of the heavy vehicle access ensures safe setback of the right hand turn lane as per the request of Transport for NSW, Shellharbour Council and Kiama Council.

A photo from Boral's DA, showing the tree gone

“Prior to undertaking the vegetation clearing, the Flora and Fauna Management Plan was updated by an ecologist endorsed by Department of Planning Industry and Environment in consultation with Shellharbour Council, Kiama Council and Fisheries NSW.

“The tree was felled by a qualified arborist and supervised by a qualified ecologist. Eight hollows were salvaged from the tree and relocated to similar remnant vegetation areas under the supervision of a qualified ecologist. An additional hollow will be relocated at a later date.”

Will Chyra says that as the tree wasn’t specifically identified, no environmental credits will be have to be paid.