Protesters ‘grieve’ for trees removed to make way for Sydney’s light rail project

Environmental protesters who rallied to try to stop trees from being cleared for the light rail project in Sydney’s eastern suburbs have put the government’s decision to fell the trees down to “bad planning decisions”.

Last night, about 40 people protested against the New South Wales government’s decision to fell several trees in Anzac Parade in Randwick.

Saving Sydney’s Trees, a community group established to save the trees along Anzac Parade, said in a Facebook post earlier today “as Sydney wakes up this morning, we grieve for the devastation on Anzac Parade”.

The protest came after hundreds gathered at Moore Park on Sunday, calling for a parliamentary inquiry to stop the felling of trees on Anzac Parade.

Protesters carried signs that read ‘Save Sydney’s trees’ and ‘Rally now’ as police worked to clear the area and allow work to resume last night.

Some of the trees are believed to be more than a century old.

Up to 760 trees could be removed to make way for the CBD and South East Light Rail, but the government plans to plant new trees in and around the surrounding areas.

Last month, protesters raised concerns about project works near the corner of Alison Road and Doncaster Avenue in Randwick, after 20,000 Indigenous artefacts were found in the area.

The $2.1 billion light rail line is scheduled to open within three years.