This week we wrote an email to Central Coast Councillors asking them to get trees back on the Council’s agenda, quickly. Why the urgency, you ask? Residential backyards are the last haven for urban shade trees, but our backyards are now the battlefield where the war between urban trees and the almighty dollar is being waged. Dramatic words, but it’s true. It’s not just greedy property developers removing trees to build granny flats. Almost any homeowner here on the Central Coast can build one, and for some it’s a way to fund retirement or to get out of debt. If you were asked to choose between a nest-egg or a tree, what would you choose? This is why we’re alarmed. Granny flats are here to stay, and it’s open season on mature trees. But there is NO PLAN here on the Central Coast to offset or replace the shade and habitat loss resulting from this kind of development, even though planting suitable shade trees in streets is the obvious answer. We’re not blaming those building the granny flats, or even the State Goverment for the policy (ok, maybe we blame them a bit)...but Central Coast Council’s failure to manage the environmental impacts is obviously and grossly irresponsible. They say they want to help, but nothing is happening. We’re about to submit this petition to finally get this issue air play. Can you help us get the final 200 signatures we need by sharing this petition? We need your help. Thank you!! Mel Debbie Jennifer GUST Grow Urban Shade Trees