Two large gum trees have been deliberately poisoned near The Gums reserve at Tranmere
Two large gum trees – one estimated to be more than 100 years old – have been deliberately poisoned in the same suburb in Adelaide’s northeast.
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Two mature gum trees have been deliberately poisoned in the same suburb in Adelaide’s northeast, raising further concern about the ongoing loss of vegetation in the district.
The poison was put into holes drilled into trees on Shakespeare Ave and Tennyson Ave, Tranmere – next to the popular reserve The Gums.
The Gums Landcare Group estimates the age of the Shakespeare Ave river red gum – located on private property – at more than 100 years.
They said the likely death of the significant tree would undo the carbon capture of all new plantings the landcare group has undertaken in the past four years.
Campbelltown Council, at the landcare group’s insistence, has placed “wanted” signs next to the tree and in The Gums reserve seeking information that could lead to finding those responsible for the intentional poisoning.
Landcare group chairman Gerry Butler said his volunteer organisation was worried about the loss of mature trees in the area and across the council district.
“We have spoken to several neighbours who are absolutely disgusted with the loss of the tree and it has caused quite a bit of regional concern,” he said.
“I think some people fail to understand how important trees are for providing us with oxygen, providing us with habitat for birds, insects and animals and the aesthetic value of having a tree in the environment.
“Because of the reduction in the size of allotments you get very little room for trees let alone any other vegetation; (the area) is becoming a heat zone.”
He estimated the Shakespeare Ave tree was poisoned about three months ago.
Satish Kumar, who is renting the Shakespeare Ave house with his wife, said they were alerted to the tree’s poor health shortly after moving into the property in October.
He said he had “no idea” who poisoned the tree and he was worried about their safety should the tree drop limbs.
“It’s a really big tree but we can’t do much from our side as we’re just renting,” he said.
New shoots have emerged on the street tree on Tennyson Ave after the council cut back branches of the gum.
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Campbelltown Council, which includes suburbs Paradise, Hectorville, Newton, Campbelltown, Rostrevor, Magill and Athelstone, has lost 6 per cent of its tree canopy cover in a decade.
Tranmere was among the worst affected suburbs for tree loss.
A 150-year-old river red gum on Lower North East Rd, Highbury was poisoned in 2018 and a similar species at Kilkenny in 2019.
The maximum penalty for damaging trees is $120,000.
Campbelltown Council Mayor Jill Whittaker urged residents to contact the council to help prosecute those responsible for the Tranmere poisoning.
“The loss of trees cannot be answered by replanting as a new tree cannot replace the canopy, habitate, oxygen creation or cooling properties of trees that are more than a hundred years old,” she said.