For generations, this beautiful Heritage Tree on 15 Dartford Road has been part of everyday life in Thornleigh.

It stands near Normanhurst West Public School, where children, parents and teachers pass by each day. It has become part of the visual memory of the street, the kind of landmark people may not think about until one day it is gone and the whole neighbourhood feels different.

For Sally and Rosemary as neighbours, this tree is deeply personal.

Rosemary has lovingly cared for the heritage garden at “Lockerbie” since 2003. Sally, a neighbouring co-owner, has watched this healthy tree become part of the garden, the streetscape and the wider community.

When they learned it could be removed, Sally and Rosemary did not simply stand by.

A certified survey commissioned by Sally indicates that the tree partly sits on her land. Since then, she has invested her own time, money and resources into registered survey work, arborist assessments, heritage advice, expert reports and legal support to protect the tree. This showed:

1. Conflicting arborist evidence
   An independent expert arborist assessed the Cypress as healthy, significant and suitable for retention, yet material supporting its removal described it very differently. These conflicting assessments must be properly reviewed before irreversible work proceeds.
2. Disputed boundary and owner consent
   A certified survey commissioned by Sally indicates the tree partly stands on her property. She has not consented to works on her land, raising serious concerns about boundary accuracy and whether all required owner consent was obtained.
3. Alternatives and heritage impacts
   Pruning, maintenance, improved driveway design and a turning area may offer safer, less destructive solutions. These options, along with the tree’s heritage value, should be fully assessed before removal is allowed.

The impact would extend far beyond one garden.

This tree provides shade, cooling and protection for surrounding plants. Its established roots help support the soil and manage water. Its dense evergreen canopy is also home and shelter to Ringtail possums, birds, insects and other wildlife that rely on it throughout the year.

Once the tree is cut down, that habitat, history and environmental protection cannot simply be replaced.

This campaign is about more than saving one tree, it is about building a movement to protect the mature and heritage trees that hold the beauty, history and character of our communities.

👉We are calling on the Property Owners of 15 Dartford Road to withdraw the approved removal and commit to retaining the tree.

👉We are also calling on the Hon. Penny Sharpe MLC to urgently issue an Interim Heritage Order to protect the Tree while its heritage significance and the approval process are properly reviewed.

By standing together, we can send a clear message that these living landmarks are sacred, irreplaceable and should never be removed through carelessness, poor process or decisions made without proper scrutiny.

Please sign and share online today.

Together, we can show that Thornleigh’s trees, wildlife, heritage and community deserve better. Heck, our Australian nature deserves better.