I am writing as a concerned Hermanus resident about the proposed removal of three beautiful, mature flowering gum trees on the municipal verge in Cross Street, Fernkloof.
The property on the road has recently been subdivided, and the new owners are seeking to remove these trees, which have stood for about 80 years, to accommodate three new driveways.
This is not simply a matter of three indi- vidual trees. The flowering gums form part of a much older lane of trees along Cross Street, and removing these three would further break up an established avenue that has been a part of the area’s character for generations.
At least 10 mature trees have already been removed from the property, some estimated to have been between 50 and 60 years old. Among them were two Cunonia capensis (rooiels), which are regionally protected in the Western Cape.
It is difficult to understand why the convenience of providing access to three double garages should come at the cost of these magnificent, established trees.
Hermanus is changing rapidly, and as more properties are subdivided and developed, we need to ask what we are prepared to lose in the process. Mature trees are one of the things that give Hermanus its character. They cannot simply be replaced with a few young saplings. An 80-year-old tree provides a canopy, shade, habitat, and beauty that will take generations to recreate.
Protecting established trees should be part of responsible development, not an afterthought.
There is also a very practical alternative in this case. Photographs of the site show that a large truck and digger loader can pass between the existing trees. If construction vehicles can access the property without removing them, then surely the driveways can be designed around the trees.
The municipality should not give permission for these trees to be removed simply because removing them is the easiest solution. The developers should be required to find an alternative that allows these established trees to remain.
The concern goes far beyond these three trees. If we allow mature trees to disappear one property at a time whenever a site is subdivided or redeveloped, we will gradually lose the leafy character and established tree-lined avenues that make Hermanus special.
FROM: Concerned Hermanus resident
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