GEORGE NEWS - The Wilderness and Lakes Environmental Action Forum (Waleaf) is concerned about a license application for the removal and/or relocation of three mature milkwood trees on a residential plot.
The owner of the property (erf 246 in George Road), Mark Rubin, has received the go-ahead from the George Municipality for building work on his property.
He now needs a license for pruning a number of milkwoods and the removal of three trees to make way for the apartments he wants to develop. An existing house on the property will be demolished.
Charles Scott from the Wilderness and Lakes Environmental Action Forum (Waleaf) raised concern that Wilderness will be losing "precious milkwoods once again". He said the trees are very old, far over 100 years.
Milkwoods are protected trees and when pruning or removing them, a license is needed in terms of the National Forests Act.
In a report that forms part of the application, independent botanical specialist Benjamin Walton recommends that the removal of the trees be offset by replanting truncheons from the mature trees and /or replanting milkwood trees in the undeveloped area. "The removal or relocation of the milkwood trees will not detract from the visual aesthetic of the property seen from the street as the remaining milkwood clusters will still have a canopy covering the view." He said there are at least seven large clusters of mature milkwood trees on the property.
There is a public comment period on the license application that closes on 20 December.
The developer didn't want to comment.
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