Tree of knowledge cut

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS

The 150 year old Morton Bay Fig in Randwick, also known as “the tree of knowledge” was cut down on Sunday night.

John Bellamy of the Saving Sydney Trees told City Hub the felling of the tree by stealth on a Sunday night had left him questioning the government.

“I feel angry, livid, heartbroken. Disillusioned, despairing, but most of all now a quiet anger,” he said.

On Monday night a small group of approximately 50 people gathered at the site to protest the cutting by stealth.

It took 24 hours for arborists to cut down and remove the stump of the tree.

Mr Bellamy said that it was the anger with the government which continued to fuel protests against the removal of the trees.

“I am pretty pragmatic, and decisive, I feel that emotion, that demoralization, the disillusionment, if it wasn’t for that feeling, it wouldn’t be driving to action,” he said.

He said he supported the light rail but the government had never released the business case for the project. He said that the light rail was wasting billions of dollars to reduce capacity of public transport.

Mehreen Faruqi said the felling of the tree by stealth was a ruthless act on the government’s part.

“Tonight the tree of knowledge, at the corner of Wansey Road and High St is being ruthlessly and needlessly chopped down. 150 years to grow, and a few hours to die.”

“We can have better planning, we can have the light rail, and we can protect our environment, we just need to use our brains and our heart a little bit more.”

More trees are expected to be cut down as the contruction of the light rail continues. Trees on Devonshire St in Surry Hills are still to be cut down.