The Norwood Cork Tree

I have looked at the revised plan from Coles Developers lodged with NPSP Council and the plan retains part of the current car park which surrounds both the Norwood Cork Tree and the significant River Red Gum. There is an allowance of 15 metres from the trees to the new buildings further east. This is more than the required distance to retain the Norwood Cork Tree, without disturbance of the root zone, as a larger area was required in order to not disturb the root zone around the River Red Gum. There will be underground parking beneath  the new supermarket and the shops. There will be a ramp for cars entering the underground car park from the southern end near the River Red Gum, which will be at ground level and rise towards the entrance. The area near the tree will be at ground level, so there will be no raised area near the tree. The Council will establish requirements to avoid damage to the trees during the construction phase, which could take a year or more to complete, once...

I have just been advised by NPSP Council that they have received a modified development application by Coles Developers, which still needs to go to the DAP for approval. This application proposes to retain both the Norwood Cork Tree and the significant River Red Gum. I was also told that Coles would be having less shops and less car parks in the development and the Edward St frontage has also been modified. This is all official information and you can view the plans at Council in the Norwood Town Hall, but copies of the plans will not be given out.

Coles Developers have lodged an appeal to the ERD Court for approval of their Development Application and the matter has been deferred to a Conciliation Conference with a view to Coles overcoming the DAP’s reasons for refusal of the application. After the Conciliation Conference takes place on 3 July 2014, the amended plans will be analysed by Council Staff, prior to a DAP hearing on the matter. It is unlikely that this process will be finalized before the DAP meeting of 18 August 2014. It appears that the developers wish to make modifications to their plans that will help to overcome the objections stated by the Development Assessment Panel when they refused the application. There were three principal objections, roughly: insufficient allowance for parking, removal of significant and regulated trees and finally, the frontage to Edward St. When the new amended development plan becomes available, we will inform you.  In the meantime, please encourage your friends to...

The Norwood Cork Tree remains in danger. We have been advised that the decision of the Development Assessment Panel of the NPSP Council to refuse approval for the Coles Development Application for the site where the Norwood Cork Tree is located, has been appealed by the applicant to the ERD Court (Environment, Resources and Development Court). No further details are as yet available. This means the Norwood Cork Tree remains in considerable danger of destruction by the Developer. An appeal means that the Developer is trying to get approval for their original application, which included removal of the Norwood Cork Tree and a number of other Significant and Regulated trees on the site of the Development. If you have not yet signed our petition, and wish to support the Norwood Cork Tree, we ask you to sign it now. https://www.communityrun.org/petitions/save-the-heritage-cork-tree-in-norwood-adelaide-south-australia

At a special meeting of Norwood Payneham & St Peters Council at 7.30 pm on 16th April 2014 Councillors voted to approve a motion that puts the onus back on Coles to fund any removal of the Norwood Cork Tree from its present location in the Coles car park. The approved motion says (paraphrased in the absence of the exact text at this stage) that the Council supports that the Norwood Cork Tree should remain in situ, but in case any application to redevelop the car park and shops is approved, the Council will not provide any funds to move the tree. A report commissioned from ENSPEC on the feasibility of moving the cork tree was considered. The report is available on the NPSP Council website  http://www.npsp.sa.gov.au/about_council/council_and_committees/council_agenda_and_minutes The report advises that the Norwood Cork Tree can be removed successfully to nearby Council owned Coke Park. The heritage value of the tree was vigorously debated by several councillors. The Mayor, Ro...

The Norwood Cork Tree is a very precious tree. Planted in his garden by pioneer industrialist Henry Buttery in 1892, the tree still grows in splendour, although its surroundings have transformed from a beautiful garden to a car park. With no sign denoting its heritage value, most car park visitors are unaware of the significance of the tree. The Norwood Cork Tree has been described as the most significant European planted tree in South Australia.  The aim of this blog is to raise awareness of the Norwood Cork Tree and its heritage value for Norwood residents and visitors and for the wider South Australian community.