Removing a towering Chinamans Beach palm tree “pure vandalism”, say Mosman residents.

By ANNA USHER

A towering Canary Island palm tree that has welcomed visitors to Chinamans Beach for more than 40 years is set to be cut down by Mosman Council in an act furious residents have described as “pure vandalism”.

Last Wednesday, Mosman Collective discovered a partially concealed sign taped to the majestic palm, not easily visible to passers-by, notifying residents that the six-metre tree was a “species not desirable in remenant (sic) bushland.”

The sign, dated July 17, says locals have just 14 days to object to the destruction of the palm.

But it seems the community was largely kept in the dark until Mosman Collective made enquiries to Council.

We published the information exclusively in our fast-growing newsletter last Friday, prompting an outpouring of anger from residents.

“I’m disgusted but not surprised! Removing that palm is heartbreaking. It’s a beautiful silhouette on the horizon,” Lorna Thompson said in an email to Mosman Collective Editor Anna Usher.

“Not impressed by the plan to remove the beautiful old palm. We live on Cyprian St and love that tree,” another resident wrote.

Jillian Butler, a long-time local and regular swimmer, called the plan to cut down the palm “a huge shame”.

“I love seeing that palm,” she wrote, “It marks the entrance to the beach in my opinion. Almost as if standing guard.

“It would be a huge shame to knock down this palm because it’s a beautiful, mature, splendid tree. It makes our beach look somewhat tropical and gives the green landscape a lovely height and sharpness contrast to the native sprawling scrub.”

Mosman Council said it was proposing to remove the tree, in line with its Urban Forest Management Policy, which allows for the removal of undesirable species for bushland management and regeneration purposes.

“The reason for the proposal is that the existing Date Palm has self-sowed in a native bushland area which should be comprised of endemic species, and Council regularly audits and actively manages its bushland assets to ensure they contain appropriate species, habitat for native fauna and remain healthy and free of disease,” a Council spokesperson told Mosman Collective.

“A replanting with a native species is proposed as this Date Palm offers little habitat value and drops large amounts of debris near the main beach entrance.

“The debris has large thorns which are difficult to remove and impede management underneath the palm as well as restoration of the adjacent dune system.”

WATCH: Mosman is home to hundreds of “Date Palms”.

Mosman Collective has counted scores of Canary Island date palms in the LGA, including on the reserve at Balmoral Beach, with questions now being raised about their future.

“This will set a precedent to get rid of all the palms in Mosman because they are non-native,” Sharon Fitzgerald wrote.

“They are beautiful iconic trees. This is pure vandalism.”

“Thank you for bringing light to this,” another social media user said in an email to Mosman Collective. “Hopefully, there is something that can be done to turn it around and save that magnificent palm tree.”

“This is mind-blowing. Absolute madness. Those palm trees are magnificent. Leave them alone,” another resident said.

“Why cut down a beautiful, healthy tree? It’s ridiculous,” another Mosman Collective reader said.

If you would like to object to the palm tree removal at Chinamans Beach, please contact [email protected] in writing by July 31 (and cc [email protected]). We will be following this story with interest in the coming weeks.