While I am not opposed to the development of the hotel as the overall plans look well considered, I am opposed to the wholesale removal of so many trees, many of which are for opportunistic reasons.
These mature, heritage specimens are visible from numerous points in Leura and Katoomba as landmark trees.
These trees are irreplaceable and give a unique sense of place to the Leura village; many of these trees are being slated for removal simply to capitalise on the potential views gained rather than being directly impacted by the proposed building envelope.
While there are some replacements proffered in the plans, they are of a different species (eg, smaller growing trees; non-unique commercial nursery-type plants native to the wider Sydney basin, etc) which will never replicate the alpine feel of the gardens that the existing conifer species provide nor will they complement the important early 20th century hill-station architecture of the heritage structures. Indeed, some of the deodars and conifers slated for removal are visible as juvenile specimens in Figure 13 from the provided heritage report and would now be over 100 years old and in prime health.
That the gardens have remained unchanged for such a long period of time is testimony to their unique sense of place as a gateway to Leura village: if more expansive views are being sought after, I would implore that the trees are left in place and simply crown-lifted to raise the lower limbs of the trees which will enable these heritage trees to continue to provide amenity to the new development as well as views to the valleys beyond. Similar works were carried out to the conifer and deodar trees at the Hydro-Majestic when it was redeveloped. If removal is absolutely necessary, I would implore that the identical species are proposed as replacements.
