THURSDAY, JULY 24, 1975
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EVERY EFFORT MADE TO PRESERVE TREES AFFECTED BY BUILDING WORKS
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THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TODAY REASSURED TREE LOVERS THAT TREES GROWN ADJACENT TO PUBLIC ROADS OR FOOTPATHS OR ON SITES FOR BUILDING OR ENGINEERING PROJECTS WILL BE PRESERVED, WHEREVER POSSIBLE.
A P.W.D. SPOKESMAN SAID THAT ALL DEPARTMENTS OF THE P.W.D. THOROUGHLY CHECK PLANS OF ALL PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS TO ENSURE THAT TREES WHICH CLEARLY HAVE AN AMENITY OR AESTHETIC VALUE ARE NOT UNNECESSARILY DESTROYED.
+IF, IN THEIR OPINION, THERE ARE TREES WHICH CANNOT BE SAVED, THE CASE WILL BE SUBMITTED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS TO A HIGH LEVEL COMMITTEE WITHIN P.W.D. FOR A DECISION.
+THE COMMITTEE WILL CONSIDER THE CASE TOGETHER WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE ADVICE AND VIEWS OF EITHER THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT OR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO TRANSPLANTING OR REPLANTING, HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IN THE CASES OF TREES AND SHRUBS THAT MUST VIRTUALLY BE DESTROYED TO MAKE WAY FOR SUCH PROJECTS AS NEW ROADS ACROSS VIRGIN COUNTRY, SERVICE RESERVOIRS, FORMATION WORKS AND THE LIKE, PERMISSION MUST FIRST BE SOUGHT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES.
AS FOR TREES GROWN ON LOTS HELD UNDER LEASE OR SALES CONDITIONS, PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE TO APPLY FOR WRITTEN CONSENT FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO FELL THEM, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, ADDING THAT ALL APPLICATIONS WOULD BE DEALT WITH EXPEDITIOUSLY.
HE POINTED OUT, HOWEVER, THAT PERMISSION SHOULD BE SOUGHT 12 MONTHS IN ADVANCE TO ENABLE THE ROOT SYSTEM OF ANY TREE SUITABLE FOR TRANSPLANTING TO BE PREPARED FOR THE MOVE.
+AS SOON AS APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED, THE P.W.D. WILL IMMEDIATELY ARRANGE FOR A MEETING ON SITE TO BE ATTENDED BY ONE OF ITS ESTATE SURVEYORS, A FORESTRY OFFICER OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT AND THE AUTHORISED PERSON AND THE DEVELOPER OF THE PROJECT CONCERNED.
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IN THE MAJORITY OF CASES, IT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY CLEAR WHICH TREES SHOULD BE PRESERVED AND WHICH CAN BE REMOVED.+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID. HE ADDED THAT THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT MUST BE MET BY THE AUTHORISED PERSON.
+HE CAN DO SO BY EITHER AMENDING HIS BUILDING PLAN TO RETAIN THE TREES TO BE PRESERVED OR SUBMITTING AN ACCEPTABLE PLAN INCORPORATING ANY PROPOSALS MADE BY THE FORESTRY OFFICER FOR LANDSCAPING AND REPLANTING ON COMPLETION OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE.+
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