Huge high school renovation is scrapped to avoid cutting down a tree that is home to TWO rare owls
- Tree was to be chopped down in $153million facelift of Chatswood High School
- ‘Powerful Owls’ have been returning to the Angophora Costata tree since 2011
- Move attracted attention of council, wildlife experts and environmental groups
- Department of Education pledged to modify the plans to preserve the tree
A pair of rare owls have singlehandedly slammed the brakes on plans for a multimillion-dollar redevelopment of a Sydney high school.
Construction plans for a $153 million facelift of Chatswood High School in Sydney’s lower North Shore were sent back to the drawing board after concerns were raised of the impact on two threatened owls.
The Education Department pledged to preserve the large Angophora Costata tree, the chosen nesting ground of the ‘powerful owls’ – a breed of the nocturnal birds.
A pair of rare ‘Powerful Owls’ have singlehandedly slammed the brakes on plans for a multimillion redevelopment of Chatswood High School (pictured)
Construction plans for a $153million facelift of the high school in Sydney’s lower North Shore have been modified after concerns were raised of the potential impact on the pair of owls
On-site tradesmen spotted the endangered birds in the schoolyard tree and called in wildlife volunteers from the Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service to remove them before the tree was cut down.
However, plans to remove the tree – in which the female owl was incubating her eggs – quickly caught the attention of local environmental groups.
Concerned volunteers asked that tools be downed before plans to retain or protect the tree could be worked out.
Willoughby Council, wildlife experts and environmental groups wrote to the Department of Education and the NSW Premier and local MP Gladys Berejkilian.
A meeting between all parties was held last Thursday to discuss strategies to preserve the tree as well as various protection measures.
Beth Mott, from Bird Life Australia and the Powerful Owl Project said the wildlife organisation was not expecting such a win.
‘They’ve agreed to modify the build to retain the tree and the subsurface works have also been changed quite dramatically to make sure there aren’t any impacts on it,’ she told the Daily Telegraph.
The pair of Powerful Owls have been returning to the school yard tree to breed since 2011 (stock image)
Concerned volunteers from environmental groups and wildlife experts asked that tools be put down before plans to retain or protect the tree could be worked out
The bird enthusiast said an exclusion zone and changes to the timing of the works so as not to disrupt the owls had also been promised in the meeting.
‘It’s the first time we’ve been able to have direct input into a project of this scale – usually trees are removed before you can do anything so in this case it’s a great outcome,’ she said.
Meredith Foley, a member of the Willoughby Environmental Protection Association, said she hoped it would be enough to keep the birds active on the school site.
She said the loss of the tree could have a devastating impact on the owls.
‘The sad reality is there aren’t a lot of trees left for them and if they were moved it’s likely they would have abandoned the eggs,’ Ms Foley said.
She explained powerful owls were extremely pedantic about the conditions under which they build their nests, needing large hollows in eucalyptus trees at least 150 years old.
This particular pair of broody owls have been returning to the tree since 2011.
‘The owls have been up there for a number of years in a playground setting so they’re used to having a bit of noise so we’re hoping they won’t be too disturbed (during construction periods)’, Ms Foley said.
The Department of Education has pledged to modify the redevelopment plans in order to preserve a large Angophora Costata tree, the chosen nesting ground of the Powerful Owls
The North Shore Times recently reported the owl’s eggs have safely hatched, with sounds of the chicks’ chirps heard around the tree last weekend
The Education Department said temporary fencing was protecting the tree, with further consultations underway with the Willoughby Council and Birdlife Australia.
‘The department acknowledges that Powerful Owls are a vulnerable species and maintaining habitat suitable for breeding is important to supporting an increase in population numbers,’ it said.
The Planning Department will also have a say on if the multimillion redevelopment plans are compliant with the conditions of approval.
The $153 million facelift approved in January will include a new library, classrooms, two workshops and a hall with sport room facilities.
The North Shore Times recently reported the owl’s eggs safely hatched, with sounds of the chicks’ chirps heard around the tree last weekend.