Green activists claim they’ve booby-trapped old gum trees on the Glenside Hospital site with spikes
ANONYMOUS activists have taken an extreme step in the campaign to save trees at the Glenside Hospital site, warning ceramic spikes that would destroy logging equipment have been inserted in the gums.
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ENVIRONMENTAL activists have taken an extreme step in the campaign to save trees at the former Glenside Hospital, warning ceramic spikes that would destroy logging equipment have been inserted in the gums.
Signs were recently hammered into about 10 gum trees on the site that state “warning, trees have had ceramic spikes inserted, do not cut”.
It is not known who is responsible for the signs, or if spikes have actually been hammered into the trees.
The plan to remove 83 large river red gums, SA blue gums, sugar gums and lemon-scented gums has sparked passionate opposition and protest rallies.
The site developer, Cedar Woods, argues the trees must be removed for the site to be remediated and developed into a 1000-home estate.
The Development Assessment Commission in March approved Cedar Woods’ application to axe 83 significant and regulated trees from the site, despite months of campaigning from community group Adelaide Trees Matter and Adelaide Central School of Art.
Adelaide Trees Matter convener Barry Barber condemned the signs and said he had no idea who put them on trees earmarked for removal.
He this week sent an email to their 100-strong supporters, warning that the signs were “not part of Adelaide’s Trees Matter strategy in opposing the removal of the trees”.
“We’re not rampant radicals or anything,” he said.
The group has previously tied yellow ribbons around trees set to be axed and held a peaceful rally.
Mr Barber said they were trying to be “sane” about the issue.
“Whether there are actually any ceramic spikes in the trees, who knows,” he said.
“I hope no more happens.”
Tree-spiking is the act of hammering a nail, metal rod or other material into the trunk of a tree that is expected to be cut down. The spikes would damage or destroy any sawing equipment, and potentially pose a danger to the person operating it.
The practise is often used by campaigners fighting against logging — as seen in Tasmania — and is not believed to threaten the life of the tree.
Ceramic spikes are unable to be picked up by metal detectors if arborists want to check if any have been inserted.
Arborist at Adelaide Tree Removals Michael Stevens has been cutting down trees across Adelaide for more than 20 years and has never heard of anyone spiking a tree.
He said the sign was also a warning to tree climbers as they could risk physical injury.
“If they have been spiked and someone was to climb them they are more than likely to get a few cuts,” Mr Stevens said.
“If I saw a sign on a tree saying it had been spiked I’d make sure I didn’t send my climbers up and I’d want to get the police involved to find out more about it.”
A police spokesman said they had not received any reports about the signs on the trees, and neither SA Film Corporation or Adelaide Central School of Art — which are based on the Glenside site — witnessed them being placed there.
