A NAPOLEON Reef resident thinks it is ironic that Bathurst Regional Council will encourage new trees to be planted in the city on Saturday while it allows old growth trees to be removed at the rural locality.
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Gerarda Mader is one of a number of residents who will gather on Saturday to say goodbye to trees at Napoleon Reef, east of Bathurst, that will be removed to make way for a quarry.
The quarry – which will be operated by Bathurst family business Hothams Sand, Soil and Gravel Supplies – was approved by council at its meeting last November after opposition to it by Napoleon Reef residents.
Residents said they were concerned by the truck movements in the locality and the dust that would be produced when they spoke against the quarry at the council meeting.
Ms Mader said the old growth trees will be removed both to make way for the quarry and in the construction of its entrance.
She said it was difficult to estimate the age of the trees.
“Here at Napoleon Reef they grow so slowly,” she said.
“We estimate that a 20 centimetre tree here is a lot older than a 20 centimetre tree beside the Macquarie River.
“Here it's just rock and sand and soil.”
She said the Bathurst Community Climate Action Network would be attending to say goodbye to the trees, as would people living in town.
“There will be a good representation of people from across the board,” she said.
She said a lot of people had attended the council meetings where the quarry had been discussed or had signed petitions against the approval.
She said there was sadness about the loss of the trees, but also a lot of anger remaining among some people about the approval of the quarry.
She said the trees were critical for a lot of species in the Napoleon Reef area.
Bathurst Regional Council and Planet Ark will hold a National Tree Day event on Saturday where residents will be encouraged to plant native trees, shrubs and plants beside the Macquarie River at Eglinton.