Mount Barker gum tree planted to die in giant holes has come crashing down during wild storm
A gum tree, among three controversially killed and relocated to make way for a sports hub, has toppled to the ground, just as critics of the plan predicted.
Adelaide Hills
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A huge gum tree, among three controversially killed and relocated to make way for an Adelaide Hills sports hub, has come crashing down.
Mount Barker Council garnered community outrage in November when it severed and partially transplanted centuries old river red gums which were in the way of a $38 million sports centre.
The council had argued the aim of the radical plan was to try and preserve the trees and existing habitat for animals.
But a torrent of water, generated by monsoon-like conditions that dumped 50mm of rainfall on Mt Barker, toppled one of the trees.
It was an outcome predicted by advertiser.com.au reader Judi, who after reading about the relocation plan last year, commented that the trees will “probably fall over in a storm”.
The council’s deputy chief executive Brian Clancey said rain during Friday’s storm had created a channel on the Springs Road site funnelling water to the base of the tree causing it to fall over.
“The other two trees have been tested this morning, they have settled correctly and they are fine,” he said.
“The whole area is excluded from public access, there is no risk to community safety.”
He was not aware if any wildlife had been injured or killed when the tree fell over and could not give a 100 per cent guarantee that the remaining trees would not topple.
“When dealing with nature there’s no such thing of 100 per cent,” he said.
The fallen tree will not be removed. A fourth tree was cut up during the initial works and its trunk and branches were cattered across the site.
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Gardening guru and Mt Barker resident Sophie Thomson joined the outcry over the shock felling off the river red gums arguing that the council’s arborist Chris Lawry had fought to keep the trees.
Mr Clancey said there was strong support for the sports hub, which will include three football ovals, four soccer pitches, eight netball courts and six tennis courts.