Media Release 29 May 2025
In another win for the southern suburbs at Wollongong Council's Monday night meeting, the fate of the beloved Lake Heights Moreton Bay Fig tree appears to have been secured. A proposed rezoning of two blocks of land where it stands at 6-8 Grand View Parade from R2 Residential to RE1 Public Recreation in Item 4, was voted to be put on exhibition. This paves the way for the land to be transferred to council ownership from the state government for use as a park.
“In 2020, the land which is owned by the NSW Land and Housing Corporation, was put up for sale by the Berejiklian government without community consultation,” Greens Councillor Jess Whittaker said.
“This caused angst in the community, who fought back against the sale. The Greens stood with the community and the local Neighbourhood Forum 7 at the scheduled auction with signs and singing songs in protest of the sale. On the day, there were no bidders.”
“The block was subsequently withdrawn from sale and its fate remained uncertain until now.”
“While the tree is protected by a heritage listing, we know all too well in Wollongong that developers are rarely prosecuted for vegetation vandalism. It's very difficult to prove who intentionally poisoned a tree, unless you catch them in the act.
The only way to protect this tree is to keep it in public ownership. The footprint of this block is such that development around the tree would be impossible without causing significant damage.”
Ward 3 Greens Councillor Deidre Stuart said that people attending the Neighbourhood Forum 7 meeting were pleased with council’s proposal to protect the Lake Heights Fig Tree. “Far from impeding urban densification, well placed parks and retaining large beautiful trees like this one, mean that people can live in higher density areas and enjoy doing so”.
The proposed sale prompted intervention from then Greens State MLC - and now federal senator - David Shoebridge, who said in a 2020 letter to then Premier Gladys Berejiklian and then Housing Minister, Melinda Pavey: “This is the only significant fig in the Lake Heights area, and the only one with a heritage listing. It has been assessed by an arborist as being in good condition, having good vitality and was given the arboricultural rating of ‘high significance’.”
“The tree has important aesthetic value, contributes to the city's tree coverage and is much loved by nearby residents as its canopy provides a beautiful place for children to play, a wind break and shade, and a connection to the natural world.”
Renowned local tree expert and author of “Wollongong’s native Trees”, Leon Fuller, who was also at the 2020 auction to protest the sale of the tree, said at the time: “Local people would find it very hard to imagine what their street would look like without this grand old tree.”
“One would expect that our state and local governments would be working together to protect this tree and the green space it occupies, not haggling over its market value. We elect governments to care for the environment, not destroy it.”
This is a good step for Wollongong City Council to take on behalf of our city for our community and for our environment.
https://newbushtelegraph.org.au/lake-heights-residents-say-gladys-doesnt-give-a-fig/
https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/6529995/lake-heights-fig-fight-round-1-goes-to-the-tree/
