Residents of Higgovale have expressed outrage after eight crown pine trees were felled near a luxury development at The Quarry Estate, a project associated with former Springbok rugby player Robby Brink, Ernusta Maralack from Rapport reported.
According to the publication, the trees were cut down on 26 November 2024, on a plot adjacent to Brink’s development.
The City of Cape Town defended the removal, stating that six of the trees were mature and ageing, posing a safety risk due to their location on a steep embankment. However, some residents have challenged this explanation, arguing that the trees had stood for over a century without issue.
Long-time Higgovale resident Abraham van Zyl, who has lived in the area for 25 years, told Rapport that he believes the decision was made to improve views from the development rather than for safety reasons.
Local tree expert Tielman Haumann also weighed in, stating that crown pines – also known as stone pines – form an integral part of the local ecosystem, providing shelter to wildlife such as owls. Haumann dismissed the city’s justification for the removal as ‘nonsense,’ Rapport noted.
The City of Cape Town maintained that the decision was necessary, citing past incidents where similar trees had fallen during storms. Officials also pointed out that the trees were non-native and their removal could allow other vegetation to thrive. Additionally, they noted that the trees had interfered with construction on nearby plots. The city acknowledged that the usual public consultation process was bypassed due to the urgency of the situation.
A group of residents is now calling for an investigation into how the removal was approved, questioning the role of Brink and the local parks department, which granted the felling permit. The city has not confirmed whether Brink or his company, Brink Property, requested the removal.
Efforts by Rapport to obtain comment from Brink were unsuccessful. A site manager at The Quarry Estate stated that Brink was abroad and unavailable to respond.
With the controversy ongoing, residents are calling for greater transparency and a review of the decision-making process. The city has pledged to engage with stakeholders on the matter but has not provided a timeline for further action.
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Picture: The Quarry Estate / Website
