The NSW Rural Fire Service has announced a tightening of vegetation clearing rules, but it came three days too late to save an 80-year-old Norfolk pine tree at Gerroa.
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The Riverleigh Avenue tree was felled on Monday amid angry scenes, and was located on a property that is now no longer in an eligible area under the interim changes.
The tree's removal was legal under the laws as they then operated, and the owner has said he believed the tree to be a fire risk.
The NSW RFS is considering more than 1800 submissions as part of its review of the 10/50 Vegetation Clearing Entitlement.
Last week Kiama Council called on the code to be suspended while the review took place as the new laws had resulted in a number of "unintended consequences".
The laws introduced on August 1 allowed residents whose homes were in designated bushfire-prone areas to clear trees within 10 metres, and shrubs and vegetation within 50 metres of houses.
The NSW RFS announced on Wednesday night that the entitlement area would be reduced, effective immediately, while the review took place.
The distance between a house and bushfire-prone area has now been reduced to 100 metres for category one and 30 metres for category two vegetation. The previous distances were 350 metres and 150 metres respectively. The distance from category two vegetation had already been reduced from 350 metres in September.
Kiama councillor Andrew Sloan welcomed the interim changes.
"There have been too many people clearing trees in our area where there is no bushfire risk," Cr Sloan said.
"This interim measures still protect homes and I think are a reasonable compromise until we can go through the science associated with the bushfire controls.
"It came too late for a tree at Gerroa, sadly."
In a statement, the NSW RFS said issues raised in the many submissions were "complex and deserving of careful consideration before a final position is adopted".
"It is clear from some submissions and feedback that while the scheme is designed to reduce bushfire risk, there has been some abuse of the fuel reduction provisions for other purposes," the statement said.
"This review is expected to be completed in the first half of 2015.
"This change will help ensure that those who are most at risk from bushfires can still protect their properties, while minimising those who are abusing the scheme for their own purposes."
The online mapping tool on the NSW RFS website has been updated with this change and heavy penalties apply to people who clear vegetation without authorisation.
Cr Sloan urged people to check the updated website before taking any action.
