Determined to protect their own development, Redbank developers today rejected any compromise, shifting the full impact of their road-widening project onto the neighbours. Disregarding the community’s pleas, they began clearing 158 old-growth trees - some over a meter wide - that provide essential wildlife habitat along Grose Vale Road.

Residents gathered in protest early this morning, holding signs and pleading for the trees to be spared. By 8 am, police arrived. Residents told the Hawkesbury Post that one police car and two paddy wagons with six police officers walked them out. Shortly afterwards the trees began to be cut down.

Police would not say who reported the protesters but told the Hawkesbury Post that at about 8 am today police were called to Grose Vale Road, North Richmond, following reports of protesters at a construction site.

“Officers attached to Hawkesbury Police Area Command attended and located a group of protesters. The group agreed to leave the construction site police action was required.”

Local councillors Mary Lyons-Buckett, Nathan Zamprogno, and Danielle Wheeler attended the protest. Councillor Zamprogno said he believes the road could have been designed to avoid the trees by moving it to the right on the Redbank side of the road.

“Look at these photos. The trees on the left are scheduled for felling. The clear land on the right is part of an (expanded) road reserve and edges the Redbank estate. In my mind there is no reason why the road couldn’t run to the right and avoid the trees,” Zamprogno said.

“I asked the Redbank representatives directly whether a road conforming to the relevant design rules could be constructed further over. In fact, I asked three times and never got a satisfactory answer.

“The proposed loss of these trees was not presented to Councillors at any stage. We feel it should have,” he said.

For residents, the felling represents not only a loss of cherished green space but also a threat to local wildlife, including koalas and gliders. One resident said: “We’re losing these beautiful trees and the wildlife they support, all so Redbank can keep their development unscathed. It’s infuriating that we’re the ones who have to sacrifice.”

Comment is being sought from Redbank.

The felling will be the latest in a number that has occurred recently in the Hawkesbury for new developments.

Hawkesbury City Council (HCC) says the planned clearing is part of a road widening project agreed upon between Redbank developers and HCC under a Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA). The approval for these works was a 2023 DA that was not considered by Hawkesbury Councillors but by the Planning Panel which was established in 2017.

The Redbank development North Richmond has long been a source of contention in the Hawkesbury, with its origins tied to allegations of political corruption and questions over the project’s approval process. The development, which began in the early 2010s, was envisioned as a large-scale residential estate but soon became embroiled in an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) investigation that involved former Liberal MP Bart Bassett. Although ICAC found that Bassett had accepted prohibited donations, he maintained that they did not influence his support for Redbank. No corrupt findings were made against Bassett. 

Bassett today works for Redbank.