🔵 Tree lopper busted by council copper

HEARD THIS WEEK👂

🌲 Killara local fined $10,000 for illegally hacking down 24-metre pine tree

In a rare win for North Shore councils fighting to stop illegal tree removal, a Ku-ring-gai property owner has faced court and been slapped with a fine for hacking down a tree without permission.

What happened: The successful prosecution was a result of Ku-ring-gai Council’s recently instated 24/7 tree hotline, where residents can report any suspected illegal tree removal or damage.

After receiving a tip-off about the removal, a council officer drove down to find “a crane and woodchipper packing up and a pile of freshly felled timber on the council verge”.

Farewell forest: According to a council media release, the victim of the crime was a 24-metre Norfolk Island Pine. The case went before Hornsby Local Court in April, where the property owner was sentenced for removing a tree without applying for council consent.

A penalty of $10,000 was imposed, and prosecutors were awarded costs of $4,800.

What it means: Mayor Christine Kay claimed the prosecution confirms Ku-ring-gai Council’s commitment to protecting and maintaining its urban tree canopy.

An LGA’s urban canopy is determined via aerial imagery, and does not include non-urban areas such as national parks.

A 2022 survey by Ku-ring-gai Council found urban canopy to have shrunk by 1.4 percent over a period of two years.

Do it right: While many cases of illegal removal have been reported across the North Shore, legal pathways for the removal of healthy trees remain available.

City planners, arborists, locals and councillors have all expressed to the Lorikeet the current system of approval for legal tree removal prioritises development over the maintenance of healthy trees.

See the full story below.

⚡️ Does the “clean energy” claim from data centres being built on the North Shore add up?

One of the key arguments the data centre industry makes to justify its numerous new developments in the North Shore is that the industry runs on clean energy. Is that true?

Data centres use electricity and, in theory, can be run on 100 percent clean energy. The problem is that our electricity grid is not yet clean.

While around half of the electricity in NSW comes from solar, wind and hydro projects, half is still powered by coal and gas. Australia is shooting for the grid to be powered by 82 percent renewables by 2030.

In the meantime, if the rate at which data centres are built outpaces the roll-out of new renewable energy, it means more coal and gas burnt. According to projections from the Climate Change Authority, the Australian government’s scientific and economic advisors on how to cut emissions, this is currently what is happening.

While the issue is particularly pointed in the case of data centres, due to their abnormally large energy demands, the situation affects all large power users: manufacturers, major supermarket chains and even local councils.

A straightforward solution exists: build the energy you’re going to use. While this can be done in the obvious way — erect a data centre next to a wind farm — these arrangements more commonly come in the form of a Power Purchasing Agreement (PPA).

But are these agreements good enough on their own?

Read the full story below.

🚳 Mosman Council can’t stop Lime — but they can lay down rules

Lime e-bikes are coming to Mosman whether the council likes it or not, but councillors are pushing for tight restrictions before the green bikes hit the streets.

What happened: Prior to its June meeting, Mosman council was approached by Neutron Holdings, Inc., also known as Lime, with a proposal to operate its e-bikes within Mosman.

Previously, operators like Lime would need to seek approval from councils to operate in their LGA. However, legislation passed in the NSW Parliament last year means local councils no longer have the ability to prohibit state-approved shared e-bike operators — such as Lime — in their area.

Councils are, however, still able to set conditions, specify parking arrangements and designate no-go zones.

Not impressed: Many councillors were unenthused about the introduction of Lime bikes to Mosman. They saw the change as increasing the workload of council in terms of policing and maintenance.

“I will confess that the only people I’ve seen riding these things are drunks and tourists,” Councillor Colleen Godsell said. “I don’t see a lot of locals using them”.

“I think this is going to go wrong from the very beginning”, said Councillor Roy Bendall.

“Our suburb is beautiful. I don’t want Lime bikes running around the place”.

Restrictions: Mosman Council wants to have a say in where bikes are allowed to be parked, and to set restricted areas within the LGA. In North Sydney, for example, parks and much of the harbour foreshore are restricted for riding or parking.

The council also wants the roll-out to come with a clear public feedback mechanism, and regular reporting from Lime on complaints and response times.

Read the full story below.

LOOKING NATIONALLY 👀

"His algorithm knew exactly what he was going through and suddenly started hitting him with all this “escape the nine to five” content. Online business content. He just started getting whacked with it."

— Triple J reporter Alice Angeloni

🗣️ Why did she say that?

Your algorithm knows when you're struggling. And so do the guys selling $12,500 online business courses.

Alice Angeloni is a reporter for Triple J's Hack program. She spent months digging into the "Escape the 9 to 5" course industry, speaking to young men who lost thousands of dollars, family members who watched their personalities change and experts who say the law hasn't caught up yet.

She explains how these courses find their targets, what the sales process actually looks like and what to watch out for before you hand over your money.

Watch the full interview below: