LAKE Macquarie Council has given the go-ahead for a 600-year-old blackbutt tree at Cooranbong to be chopped down.
The tree is in the way of a new 10 lot housing development at Freeman's Dr.
Council on Monday night okayed the housing development and the tree's removal.
Council engaged an independent arborist who had a high risk of failure.
Since news of the tree's plight it has caused an outcry among many people who want it saved.
Greens Mayoral candidate Howard Morrison called on council to buy some of the land to save the tree from being felled.
Last week council deferred a decision after councillors and council officers inspected it so a report on its condition could be obtained.
Mr Morrison said last week that the matter could have been solved by council acquiring a part of the site necessary to ensure the tree was oreserved. "Council has a defining opportunity to demonstrate a commitment to balance between the natural and built environment buy buying the land," he said. Several people have been calling for the tree to be saved.
In particular Morisset residents Nick Burgess and Lee McMinn have been spearheading a campaign to save it.
Mr Burgess addressed council recently and stretched a tape measure across the council chambers to demonstrate the enormity of the tree.
The tree measures 13m wide, 40m high, and has a root system spreading out over 54m.
However the tree's future was likely to be decided in the land and Environment Cout if council refused to okay the development and removal of the tree.
Click here to read about the current state of the issue.
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