Ratepayers Association Calls for Mass Resignations Over Tree Removal Controversy
The Town of Victoria Park Ratepayers Association has issued a forceful demand for the resignation of the local mayor, councillors, and senior administration staff. This call follows what the association labels as a "whitewash" investigation into unauthorised tree removals at Elizabeth Baillie Park, highlighting a severe governance breakdown.
Internal Investigation Fails to Assign Accountability
According to the association, an internal investigation report prepared by town staff has completely failed to hold anyone accountable for what they describe as a clear and evident governance failure. The group asserts that dozens of established trees were removed from the Elizabeth Baillie Park redevelopment site without proper policy safeguards or qualified arboricultural oversight, raising serious questions about administrative competence.
The controversy deepened when the association revealed that Mayor Karen Vernon admitted at a February 3 agenda meeting that she had neither read nor sought to obtain arborist reports related to Edward Millen Park. This admission came despite repeated correspondence from the group challenging the administration's claims that most of the removed trees were unhealthy or exotic species.
Discrepancies in Tree Removal Figures Exposed
Documents obtained by the association under Freedom of Information laws show that 57 trees were removed and signed off by town staff, with only ten identified as dead or in poor condition. However, the town's own investigation report includes a table indicating 94 trees were removed, of which 14 were recorded as dead or in poor health.
The association argues that these figures directly contradict the administration's public narrative that the majority of the removed trees were unhealthy. Furthermore, they claim that every tree removal was authorised in writing by town staff members who lacked arboricultural qualifications, shifting blame from contractors to governance issues.
Governance Failures and Calls for Resignation
An association spokesperson emphasised, "This is not a contractor issue. It is a governance issue." Given the seriousness of these oversight failures and the evident dysfunction, the association insists that the mayor, councillors, and senior administration staff must accept responsibility and tender their resignations immediately.
The town's investigation, released on February 27, attributed the unauthorised removals to management shortcomings, including high staff turnover, inconsistent record-keeping, and flawed project design. Despite this, the association views the report as inadequate and lacking in true accountability.
Council Response and Future Steps
Mayor Karen Vernon expressed her "deep disappointment" in the tree removals via social media, stating that the report provides a detailed account of the incidents. She acknowledged that the investigation confirmed significant weaknesses in internal processes related to project governance, documentation, and contract management.
Vernon described the report as "difficult reading" but an important step toward accountability and improvement. The report includes several recommendations, such as reviewing town policies, developing a tree canopy replacement program, and updating contract requirements to define tree protection expectations. The council will consider these recommendations at its upcoming March 17 meeting.
As the community awaits further developments, the ratepayers association remains steadfast in its demand for leadership changes, underscoring the need for transparency and effective governance in local council operations.
