Tree war erupts in Surry Hills

An ongoing tussle between Surry Hills residents and the Beresford Hotel has again erupted with the pub applying to replace the large plane tree in Mary’s Place off Bourke Street.

The recently renovated pub was required to retain and protect the tree as a condition of its Development Approval, so residents have little sympathy with the pub’s claim that the roots are penetrating its basement area.

They say that should have been managed during the refit.

The green pocket in the narrow lane has a unique sense of place as the wall of the hotel gracefully curves around the tree creating a ‘mini-square’ rather than the usual narrow canyon.

A petition of 250 signatures calling for retention of the tree was gathered during the original DA process in 2007, and residents say nothing has changed.

The hotel is supporting its new application with an arborist’s report, but residents say Council should commission its own report.

The tree provides privacy for a large block of flats facing the hotel across the lane, and acts as an effective passive solar device, shading the north-facing windows in summer while letting light through in winter when the leaves fall.

The hotel wants to replace it with a Chinese Tallow tree which residents say will take decades to provide the same level of cover.

The family owners of the hotel said they were sensitive about the environment, and referred us to their media spokesperson who refused permission for The City News to take pictures inside the hotel and declined to comment pending legal advice. No comment had been received by our print deadline.