❓ Question regarding a report into the felling of an 800-year-old tree. The Minister's answer details the incident, attributing blame to a contractor's miscommunication and outlining DBCA's response.
AnsweredQoN 99Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the media article in WAtoday , ‘Far from happy about
it: WA environment minister orders report after 800-year-old tree cut down’,
dated 25 August 2024, and I ask: (a) has the report been completed; (b) if no to (a), why not; (c) what was the outcome of the report; (d) will the Minister please table a copy of the report; and (e) if no to (d), why not?
it: WA environment minister orders report after 800-year-old tree cut down’,
dated 25 August 2024, and I ask: (a) has the report been completed; (b) if no to (a), why not; (c) what was the outcome of the report; (d) will the Minister please table a copy of the report; and (e) if no to (d), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
29 May 2025
Responded by
Minister for the Environment
Response time
8 days
(a)-(e). The former Minister for the Environment, Hon. Reece Whitby MLA, was fully briefed on the incident by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) through a formal briefing note and a verbal meeting.
DBCA liaised with the contractor in relation to the work that it undertook, and it was confirmed that there had been a breakdown in communication on the contractors’ behalf. The instructions on the pruning works to be undertaken were made clear by DBCA prior to the works commencing.
The contractor removed the fallen branches but then went outside the scope of the agreed works and removed the entire tree. This is an isolated and unfortunate incident, and it was never DBCA’s intention for the entire tree to be removed.
The contractor has accepted that it did the wrong thing and is remorseful that this occurred.
DBCA has worked with the contractor that undertook the tree works to confirm that it has processes in place to ensure that similar issues do not occur in the future.
DBCA liaised with the contractor in relation to the work that it undertook, and it was confirmed that there had been a breakdown in communication on the contractors’ behalf. The instructions on the pruning works to be undertaken were made clear by DBCA prior to the works commencing.
The contractor removed the fallen branches but then went outside the scope of the agreed works and removed the entire tree. This is an isolated and unfortunate incident, and it was never DBCA’s intention for the entire tree to be removed.
The contractor has accepted that it did the wrong thing and is remorseful that this occurred.
DBCA has worked with the contractor that undertook the tree works to confirm that it has processes in place to ensure that similar issues do not occur in the future.
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