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Tree man found guilty of obstruction

27/Oct/2010

By Jaime Shurmer, Comment News

Comments: 11 readers have left a comment

THORNLIE tree man Richard Pennicuik was convicted of obstruction when he appeared in Armadale Magistrates Court today.

Mr Pennicuik was fined $500 and ordered to pay $5000 in costs to the City of Gosnells.

But the long-running dispute may not yet be over.

Outside court, key supporter James Dean said Mr Pennicuik would appeal the decision.

Mr Pennicuik was charged with obstruction after he failed to come down from a tree on the verge outside his home that was earmarked for lopping by City of Gosnells contractors.

He gained world-wide attention when his protest lasted more than 100 days.

What everyone else is thinking

climate change

26/01/2011

Lets not forget that the reason we have climate change is due to environmental terrorism by irresponsible councils and developers. Ask the question?, if trees did not perform a valuable service in maintaining mothers nature balance in respect to pollution, rain fall, shelter then we would not need them in the first place. Also in summertime it is the suburbs that have very little trees that require homeowners to have airconditioners running full bore, with dry landscapes etc. You do not find this situation in lush vegetation areas such as the hills who do not need their airconditioners running and have lush moist soil. Wake up everybody to the abuse of mother nature.

Jeremy

15/11/2010

Very few people realise that the local government should actually have zero power. They have an ABN which obviously means they're a business not a legal form of government. How can a business fine you for something that belongs to the Australian people.

Brendan

30/10/2010

City Of Gosnells Sicken Me ALL MY LIFE. Hate The City Of Gosnells, Hope Ian Cowie and Trevor Perkins will lose thier jobs

Ribbon

29/10/2010

I think he did his best and I am pleased that there are people willing to save trees. I'm sorry that he has been fined.

naia

28/10/2010

Scott asks what Richard Pennicuik has achieved - obviously not what he set out to achieve, but he has generated debate on the issue of public trees and the relative benefits and responsibilities associated with them. Many people will have learned from this experience. And if Scott doesn't give a "fat rats" about the man or the tree, one wonders why he bothered to comment and thus indulge the media

AIR

28/10/2010

Richard Pennicuiks efforts certainly raised the issue of trees (without which none of us would be here)
Personally, I am more wary of pedestrians and other motorists on the road, than I am of trees.
If there is a storm - like you, I would probably avoid Kings Park, and areas of other tall trees.
From what I gather from the comments above I imagine most of you might prefer the protection of an a/c 4WD
For me, I rather like the natural a/c of a well established tree that has used its time, to lift its canopy to such a height that it creates hundreds of cubic metres of cooling shade in summer - while, (unlike deciduous trees) generates oxygen all year, for all to share regardless on the planet that we live, - regardless of species we might be..
Richard Pennicuik I salute you, for daring to challenge the current short sighted council process, and 4WD brigade right into the courts.
I trust that the ultimate decision in the court is made fairly in the trust of God the Almighty.

Stu

28/10/2010

Sorry Michelle But I have to agree with the others. This idiot has achieved nothing but his own financial ruin. And the only thing that he has shown us is that the more moronic you are the more likely you are to get 15 minutes of fame in the media. Really it's all been a big waste of eveyone's time and money and the last sort of example you'd want anyone to follow.

Scott

28/10/2010

Can help but totally agreeing with you 'M'. The word 'feral' springs to mind when i think of this man. I believe the media has got to take their portion of the blame for this, they created what he became. And now months have gone by, who really gives a fat rats clacker about, a) the tree and b) Richard Pennicuik? Not I.

prodigious

28/10/2010

@Michelle what has he achieved? The council cut the tree down anyway and now he has a $500 dollar fine and an order to pay the council $5000.

M

27/10/2010

Richard Pennicuik is a fool, if anyone was hurt by branches off that tree falling on them- he should have been made to pay for their hospital costs. Narcissistic attention seeking weasel who doesn't work and has never helped anyone else unless he benefits.