Terry Jones first approached Bathurst Regional Council in February to voice his dissatisfaction with the administration of its tree preservation order.

Mr Jones had wanted to remove 10 mature trees from his property on Braham Street, saying he feared they would come down in a storm.

He contacted council and an officer conducted an on-site inspection of the trees, indicating his application to remove the trees would likely be approved.

But when one of council’s parks managers wrote a report on the application, Mr Jones’ request was denied.

He was advised council would reconsider the application if he produced new information and Mr Jones engaged Lang Tree Management to produce a professional arborist’s report.

The report determined that the trees posed “a big risk to property and personal safety” and should be removed.

After receiving the report, council approved the removal of seven trees and Mr Jones sought reimbursement for the $3035 he paid to Lang Tree Management, arguing he only needed the report because council’s officers had erred in rejecting his initial application.

But a report to councillors by council general manager David Sherley says council staff acted appropriately in handling Mr Jones’ request to have the trees removed and that council should not pay the fee for his arborist’s report.

“An assessment of the facts in this matter indicates: 1. Council professionally adhered to its policy/procedure in processing the application; 2. Gave due regard to the reasons provided on the TPO application and the extent of the request made; 3. The consultant was privately contracted by the TPO applicant, not council; 4. Correspondence from the SES was reasonably considered in the process,” Mr Sherley wrote.

“Accordingly, it is recommended that Council not agree to the request to refund the account(s) for $3035.”

Councillors will vote on the recommendation at Wednesday night’s full council meeting