Northbourne Avenue trees and light rail - facts not fiction

A diseased tree being removed from Northbourne Avenue (Canberra Times)

Yes the trees are going
Yes they will be replaced (with more than there are now)
Yes they will be replaced with semi-mature trees 4 to 5 metres high
No tree that is removed before construction begins is because of light rail.
No Northbourne Avenue will not be defoliated permanently

There will be more trees when we have light rail, then when we didn't. 

The trees on Northbourne Avenues median strip will be removed during the construction of light rail. Trees are being removed now because they are diseased or damaged. Construction has started on the light rail project, but it is not yet at the stage where trees will be removed on Northbourne Avenue. See this post on the light rail construction timeline.

Fact - There are only 202 healthy trees left along Northbourne Avenue after years of disease and storm damage to the current planting. Many of these would have to be replaced over time in any case.

Fact - When light rail construction concludes an extra 1000 trees will be planted to replace those removed.

Fact - semi-mature Eucalyptus Mannifera will be approximately 4-5 metres high when first planted during the construction phase of Capital Metro. The NCA endorse this species.

Fact - light rail tracks will occupy about seven metres of the total 27-metre wide median strip, leaving about 10 metres on either side for landscaping and trees

Northbourne Avenue with light rail, mature trees and sympathetic landscaping 

In time the entrance to the Nations capital will become a grand tree lined boulevard, with trees and light rail. People may actually enjoy walking or cycling along it. It will be more than simply a funnel for cars and a long strip of sickly gum trees. It will be the entrance we have needed since Federation.

Many trees have fallen since the current planting matured, and they continue to fall or be removed on safety grounds. Sometimes this program is misinterpreted as being part of the light rail project, and those with an anti light rail agenda fulminate and distort reality in their political campaign. Even the Canberra Times (Independent always...) plays this game with misleading headlines.

Example - "First Northbourne tree removals costing $32,000" implies that the trees being removed are part of the first stage of light rail construction. In fact the removal was about public safety.

"the tree removals were not linked to the government's planned city to Gungahlin tram line, which will see 444 trees cut down on Northbourne from later in the year. They will be replaced with 671 new trees, expected to be grown at the Yarralumla Nursery. On the Federal Highway, 211 trees will be removed and 157 new trees planted."

Understandably it is hard to get the true facts on tree removal along Northbourne when even the local newspaper distort the truth to sell papers. That is why this website will alway provide a range of views to enable you to form your own.

• Canberra Times article on tree removal
• Canberra Times article on tree removal timeline
• Canberra Times article on trees removed on safety grounds after excessive rains 
• ACT Light Rail article on tree falling across Northbourne Avenue
• ACT Light Rail have covered this before
• ACT Government media release on extra 1000 trees
• ACT Government media release on new tree species for Northbourne Avenue

Northbourne Avenue has had several generations of tree plantings in its lifetime. It is a harsh environment for native trees, and their lifespan is significantly shorter in a congested urban area, than sitting peacefully in Namadgi. In 2015 the ACT Government advised that:

"The selection of a suitable replacement tree species for the Northbourne corridor is significant as it represents the fourth generation of trees to be planted within the median since around 1913.

“Many of the trees remaining in the median on Northbourne Avenue are in decline and will need to be replaced in the near future regardless of the light rail project,” Mr Corbell said.

“Between 2010 and 2014 the number of trees on the Northbourne Avenue and Federal Highway median of the light rail corridor reduced from 802 to just 484 through failing health, storm damage and removal of dead and dangerous trees. Furthermore, the 2014 assessment of the trees in the corridor found only 59% of the remaining trees were healthy."

In June 2015 the ACT Government informed the public that:

"The light rail corridor between Gungahlin and City will see an increase of nearly 1000 extra trees as part of Capital Metro stage one according to the recently released environmental impact statement for the project, Minister for Capital Metro Simon Corbell said today.

“Although the project requires the removal about 860 existing trees along Flemington Road, the Federal Highway and Northbourne Avenue there will be 1,800 new trees planted in their place,” Mr Corbell said.

“This includes the replacement of about 450 Eucalyptus elata along the Federal Highway and Northbourne Avenue with approximately 700 Eucalyptus mannifera.

“This will result in fantastic medium to long-term results for the aesthetic of the gateway to Canberra but the government is also exploring possibilities for the staging of replacement of the existing trees and the procurement of pre-grown replacements in order to minimize the short-term visual impact of these changes.

The Eucalyptus elata have been struggling over recent years and through natural attrition the number of these trees in this area have reduced from more than 800 in 2010 to about 480 in 2014.  Many of these remaining trees are in decline and only 59% are rated as being in good health. 

“Eucalyptus mannifera is a common tree in Canberra with 100,000 already planted in our urban forest, including as boulevard trees in areas like Captain Cook Crescent in Griffith.  The new plantings will emphasise the ‘bush capital’ look and uphold the character of Northbourne Avenue as a grand boulevard,” Mr Corbell said.

“The Capital Metro project provides a key opportunity to redefine the gateway to the nation’s capital and improve the landscape character for the light rail corridor for all residents and visitors to enjoy. Development of light rail stage one provides an opportunity to refresh the Northbourne Avenue, Federal Highway and Flemington Road corridors, adorning the alignment with new native and exotic trees

“An opportunity also exists to improve the landscape character of Flemington Road, which at the moment doesn’t feature many trees in the median. The draft EIS identifies an opportunity to greatly improve the visual appeal and amenity of the corridor through tree planting in the verges and median.”

A number of native and exotic trees are proposed to be planted along Flemington Road and the Federal Highway. A key focus for the Flemington section of the light rail corridor will be to compliment the surrounding native temperate grassland and lowland woodland character."

Even the ACT Conservation Council appreciate the need for tree replacement.

Of course, politicians will ignore facts and create their own reality where any tree that falls along Northbourne, or is removed for safety reasons is somehow related to the light rail project. despite the facts presented here that shows that many of these trees will have to be replaced regardless of whether light rail was coming down Northbourne Avenue or not. These people are lying to win votes. They don't really care for trees, they just don't want light rail and will use anything they think people will fall for, even cheap deceptive publicity stunts.

Canberra Liberal candidate Elizabeth Lee deliberately misleading people in an attempt to win votes

Canberra Liberal candidate Candice Burch misleading the public to win votes

This is Northbourne Avenue. We deserve better.

For more frequent updates on Capital Metro and light rail related news, please visit our Facebook page 'Light Rail for Canberra'.  

Australian Rail Association continues to support light rail in Canberra

The Australian Rail Association continue to support Canberras Capital Metro Stage One light rail as the backbone of an integrated public transport system in a media release on 17 August 2016.

"With the first sod recently turned on Stage 1 of Canberra’s Light Rail, the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) takes the opportunity to remind all Canberrans that an integrated approach to transport is the most sensible way to guarantee an efficient, affordable and environmentally sustainable transport network for Australia’s capital city.

“Canberra currently has one of the lowest rates of public transport usage in Australia, however with some smart planning, Canberra could have a world-class transport system that cleverly integrates light rail with buses, bike paths and carparks,” said ARA Chief Executive Officer, Danny Broad.

“This kind of modern solution to urban transport challenges is already being embraced by cities around the world.

“The transport solutions for a city of 300,000 people are vastly different to those needed for Canberra’s projected 2035 population of 550,000. Buses alone are not the solution, soon enough they would simply result in congested roads.

“Australia is experiencing a light rail revolution, with projects in seven States and Territories at varying stages of planning, construction or expansion.

“Light rail offers Canberra a compelling public transport value proposition, which consists of a medium capacity, road-based public transport solution that is delivered at an affordable price point, realising a range of economic, social and environmental benefits.

“The Capital Metro Business Case has forecast the project will generate around $1 billion in benefits for the Canberra community over its first 30 years of operation.

“To better contextualise this figure, over the past ten years, the ACT Government has invested more than $1 billion on road infrastructure. Over the next four years, a total of $2.5 billion has been budgeted by the ACT Government for infrastructure development with Capital Metro’s $698 million project representing less than one third of the Territory’s total infrastructure investment.

“It is clear governments can no longer build their way out of road congestion by increasing road capacity even where suitable corridors exist.

“The induced demand for transport means new road capacity is quickly used and roads rapidly become congested. This is why cities around the globe are investing in alternative forms of mass transport.

“Light Rail represents a way to break this downward cycle of spending on more and bigger roads. Reallocating existing road space to light rail will carry more people per lane, per hour than private cars or the existing bus system can do.

“The debate over light rail versus bus is over. Canberrans need a light rail system integrated with a bus network. A long-term integrated transport approach is required for our growing city,” said Danny Broad."

For more frequent updates on Capital Metro and light rail related news, please visit our Facebook page 'Light Rail for Canberra'.  

ACT Auditor general commends Capital Metro Agency delivery of light rail project

The ACT Auditor General today released 'Report No. 5 of 2016 Initiation of the Light Rail Project' after conducting a review of the Light Rail process. It is an endorsement of the ACT Governments approach to the Capital Metro Stage One process and concludes that the project has been handled professionally, competently and legally. It also recommends ways to improve capturing the benefits of the project.

The full report can be downloaded from this link.

ACT Light Rail support the recommendation to create a Benefits Realisation Plan. For Canberra to truly appreciate and manage the benefits of light rail, significant thought needs to be given to :

• land development decisions
• integrating bus services with light rail
• park & ride development and promotion
• parking charges 
• value capture activities 
• traffic light signalling
• locating ACT Government staff in the corridor
• encouraging large scale employers to build new employment centres along the corridor

The Government has already indicated it has started planning for these things, and ACT Light Rail are confident that a formal plan may be announced. Transport and planning need to be administered in the same portfolio.

Ultimately, this report has silenced the critics and conspiracy theorists. The Auditor General confirms what many have suspected about the Capital Metro Stage One project, that it has been well planned, and well administered. Credit must be given to the Capital Metro Agency and the ACT Government.

The following are excerpts from the report:

Another week, another light rail driven investment in Canberra

Last week a major Canberra developer announced a $250 million dollar investment in Gungahlin with light rail as a major driver. This week, Capital Metro Stage One has been the catalyst for another significant investment, this time  by a Melbourne based property group, South Haven. They are spending $29 million on a building on the corner of Barry Drive and Northbourne Avenue with direct frontage to the light rail. This is another clear sign that Transit oriented Development is occurring along the light rail corridor.

Domain reports on the purchase here:

One of Canberra’s most recognisable office buildings has sold to a Melbourne investor for $29.2 million. The seven-storey building at 73 Northbourne Avenue, on the corner of Barry Drive, attracted strong interest from interstate investors during the marketing campaign. It was South Haven Group’s first purchase in the nation’s capital, which according to selling agents, is a sign of continued momentum for the Canberra office market.

The surrounding amenity and the prospect of the light rail stopping just outside the building also resonated with interstate investors, according to Mr Heather.
“That was very attractive to the Melbourne private investors who have seen what the tram system provides to Melbourne.”

“We do not expect demand to dwindle,” Mr Stewart said. “If anything, we would envisage greater investor interest along with some yield compression in line with Melbourne and Sydney locations.”

The full article can be read online here.

As well as this website, the facebook group 'Light Rail for Canberra' carries frequent updates on Capital Metro and light rail related news. 

Dickson towers demolished as part of Northbourne Avenue urban renewal

The redevelopment of this site will attract major investment as it is right on the Capital Metro Stage One route on Northbourne Avenue. The sale of the site will help fund Capital Metro Stage One through the asset recycling program. The former tenants have been relocated to better quality accommodation more in keeping with their requirements. Win Win Win.

The Canberra Times reported on this here.

For more frequent updates on Capital Metro and light rail related news, please visit our Facebook page 'Light Rail for Canberra'.