[Greens-Media] Schools set to lose thousands of trees without good cause

[John Kaye]

Schools set to lose thousands of trees without good cause
 
Media release: 18 October 2010
 
Plans to cut down thousands of trees in NSW public schools and TAFE colleges as part of the Building the Education Revolution should be carefully reviewed, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye. ('Schools stumped by chainsaw massacre', SMH 18 October page 1,  http://bit.ly/smh101018)
 
Dr Kaye said: "Bushfire safety must always come first but the Department of Education is set to wipe out many trees that could be saved without putting students or buildings at any greater risk.
 
"This is yet another example of Education Minster Verity Firth and her Department ignoring principals, teachers and parents.
 
"Students arrived at 695 schools and TAFE colleges last week to find favourite trees condemned without consultation.
 
"Instead of working with school communities to develop sensible bushfire plans that protect as many trees as possible, the Keneally government is sending in the chainsaws without looking at the alternatives.
 
"The Department of Education failed to build partnerships with schools to control costs in the Building the Education Revolution.
 
"Now they are imposing bushfire plans without talking to parents, teachers and principals.
 
"Minister Firth must step in and work with school communities to review the tree felling plans," Dr Kaye said. 
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455 
 
 
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John Kaye
Greens member of the NSW Parliament
phone: (02) 9230 2668
fax: (02) 9230 2586
mobile: 0407 195 455
email: john.kaye at parliament.nsw.gov.au
web: www.johnkaye.org.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000