The public gallery at a City of Swan council meeting last week could be forgiven for thinking they had front row seats to a circus as outrage was parked over a decision to cut down two healthy trees and replace them with two more trees.
The arguments used in favour of the decision, which have been slammed by community members as "illogical" has prompted calls for debates made during council meetings to be recorded and available online to enable better public engagement and scrutiny.
The council decision to cut down two big trees in a small park on public land has been made despite an arboricultural report saying the trees were healthy and posed little risk.
The city is considering replacing the trees with two Jacaranda trees and to date the report and tree removals have cost ratepayers $3,237.
The removal of an Illawarra Flame Tree and a Rose Gum on Claymore Close in Guildford was originally brought to the attention of the council in a petition by 11 residents who wanted the trees pulled down because the bark was messy.
They also feared the trees might fall during storm and wind events.
But a comprehensive report by BIJL Tree Consultancy, commissioned by the city, found both trees were in excellent health and structurally sound.
The report said the gum tree's seasonal shedding of twigs, small branches and bark was typical of this eucalyptus species.
Following the report's recommendations, the council voted in the majority to save the trees on March 5.
But at the next council meeting on March 26 Guildford Ward Cr Daniel Parasiliti successfully argued the trees should to be cut down, based on his belief they posed an unsatisfactory risk and the report was flawed.
Council voted to cut them down but last week the trees were again firmly planted on the council's agenda when a motion was put forward by North Ward Cr Kevin Bailey to allow the Guildford community to vote on the issue.
Still arguing to cut down the trees, Cr Parasiliti insisted the report was flawed and the trees posed a danger to residents yet he failed to produce any real evidence to support his claims – and nor was he asked to.
Despite eucalyptus trees standing tall along Guildford's Main Street, Cr Sandra Gregorini said the rose gum should be cut down, because she felt it was out of place in the area.
The report found no evidence of previous significant branch failures and said the probability of significant branches falling in the future was low.
Nevertheless Ballajura Ward Cr John McNamara highlighted how dangerous a tree branch can be, following the death of a child in February this year in the eastern states.
The council voted in the majority to bypass consultation with the community and cut down both trees and secretary of community group Transition Town Guildford Peter Langlands said the whole fiasco had highlighted a weakness in the existing community engagement and decision making processes.
"Council could move to make meetings more open to all residents by making full audio recordings available online," he said.
Hazelmere resident Peter Graham agreed.
His impassioned plea last month to remove a crippling special area rate on some Hazelmere residents did not elicit one question or comment from the council before members voted, in an absolute majority, to impose the levy.
Mr Graham said making audio of these discussions available online, and more easily accessible to ratepayers, would put more pressure on councillors to present thought out and reasonable arguments, that genuinely appear to consider deputations, when supporting or debating a motion.
"Councillors should be held accountable for their comments and decisions," he said.
"The policy to not keep and publish detailed minutes of council meetings is a blow to transparent, democratic process."
But City of Swan chief executive officer Mike Foley said the city did not support making audio of the meetings available online.
Despite 5.30pm meetings being an impractical time for young families to attend, and travelling to Midland difficult for those who have mobility issues or live far away, he said the issue has not been raised with the city.
"If there are members of our community who have concerns about attending meetings we encourage them to contact us to raise this issue and it can be considered by council."
Mr Foley said if the city recorded its meetings it would be required to provide transcripts if someone asked for one however, when listening back to the recording, it was not always clear who was speaking.
"This creates confusion instead of providing clarity," he said.
But the Mundaring Shire, which is in the process of merging with Swan, disagreed.
The shire currently makes the recordings of its council meetings available online and Mundaring Shire acting chief executive officer Paul O'Connor said audio recordings of council meetings were implemented in 2009.
He said the Shire of Mundaring believed audio recordings of council meetings provided accuracy, as well as a means for those unable to attend meetings to listen to proceedings.
A Department of Local Government and Communities spokesperson said the Local Government Act did not prevent shires from recording meetings and making them available online.
"The Local Government Act 1995 requires that LGA's are accountable to the community and that they ensure community participation in decision making."
"The department is supportive of initiatives that improve the transparency and accountability of local government decision making, such as the recording or broadcasting of council meetings."
- The Echo Newspaper
