Green Offset in Hornsby Shire Planning

Greens Councilor Andrew Martin of Hornsby Shire Council writes an interesting letter for the Monthly Chronicle, on the topic of Green Offsets used by the Council when assessing Development Applications. He is concerned that several established areas of Blue Gum High Forrest have been "offset" for relatively small sums, $10,000 or $20,000, which of course are trivial in relation to the enhanced value of the development once the trees are removed.
Under the Green Offset policy, the DA is approved on the understanding that the removed Blue Gum will be replaced with perhaps four sapplings in another area. But Clr Martin points out that the result is a gradual removal of vegetation from building plots into existing already vegetated reserves, which will adversely change the character and quality of our suburbs forever.