Feb 2006: Problem Hedges created.
Feb – Aug 2006: Lobbied local MP and councilors. Mosman Council moves to include Leighton Greens on the list of species exempt from the Tree Preservation Order.

Sept 2006: Page 3 story in the Sydney Morning Herald on problem hedges. Today Tonight and A Current Affair programs on problem hedges Bombarded by phone calls from affected residents from all over NSW and interstate. Made aware by new members of Trees (Dispute Between Neighbours) Bill. Members make submissions to Attorney General’s office regarding suggested changes to Trees Bill covering loss of views and light. Members lobby MP’s to make changes to Tree Bill.

Sept 2006: Letter sent to Frank Sartor (Minister for Planning).

Nov 2006: Mosman Council moves motion at the Local Government Assoication Annual Conference asking for ‘Leighton Greens’ to be declared a noxious weed. Nov 2006: Trees (Dispute Between Neighbours) Bill debated in NSW parliament. Members receive support from Jillian Skinner (MP North Shore) who proposed revisiting the legislation if the Coalition was elected in March of 2007. David Barr (ex MP Manly) proposed introducing a bill that addresses the issue of trees and views when re-elected. Parliamentary secretary suggests that problem hedges should come under Planning Law and that they would contact the Department of Planning regarding the issue.

Jan 2007: Trees (Dispute between Neighbours) Bill enacted without suggested modifications.

March 2007: Mosman Council moves that when a DA comes to council with existing plantings of Leighton Greens, the applicants be required to remove them as a condition of consent when they are inappropriately planted and potentially impactive on a neighbouring property’s amenity or solar access. Mosman Council also moves that where existing stands of Leighton Greens impact on people’s views, solar access or amenity, residents be required to hedge them to a height not exceeding 1.8m or remove them and replace them with more suitable plantings.
 (Unfortunately legal advice and a letter from council indicate that there is no legislation in place that enables councils to order property owners to remove or prune hedges on their properties).

July 2007: Mosman Council formally discourages planting of Leighton Greens in Mosman Daily. Council requests property owners to consider their neighbours’ solar access and views when planting trees on private property and keep hedges of Leighton Green pruned to a suitable height.

Hedgewise

The first goal of Hedgewise, which was to raise awareness at local council level (Wingecaribbee Shire Council) and in the community, has been achieved. Members attended council meetings and made submissions to council. Members wrote to the local paper and to councilors. Members lobbied nurseries, garden clubs and farming groups. Two councillors, one ex-councillor and some council staff were very actively involved with Hedgewise in the earlier stages. Members lobbied LGA.


Nov 20003: One of these councilors moved a motion at Wingecarribbee Shire Council which resulted in the formation of a ‘sunset’ Hedge Committee. Ie. a short term committee to investigate residential/urban problem hedges and rural problem hedges.


March 2004: WSC holds public meeting. Report produced by WSC.
WSC Council moves to submit draft LEP to Department of Planning re:hedges.

Numerous stories in the local press and SMH.

Two interviews with ABC radio.

Meetings with local (opposition) MP who made representations to 6 ministers on behalf of Hedgewise.

Another sunset Hedge Committee formed to investigate the loss of rural views. Hedgewise was frustrated because council would not specify CL’s??. The resultant report was unconvincing but council was at least aware.

Aug 2007: Wingecarribbee Shire Council attempted to have a hedge height control inserted into its LEP but this was rejected again by the Department of Planning.

WSC councilors make a survey of views and vistas.

Wingecarribbee Shire Council moves a motion asking for the association to work with the department of Planning to formulate a planning control which allows councils to control the height of hedge plantings in their area. The motion also calls for ‘vegetative screen plantings’ to be defined as a type of development to be included in the land use tables of an LEP.
Hedgewise decides on new goal “to raise further awareness at State Government level”.