Darwin council plants seeds of dangerous tree management plan
MORE than two years after Cyclone Marcus uprooted Darwin, the city council is continuing to restore and protect the city from dangerous trees.
Northern Territory
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MORE than two years after Cyclone Marcus uprooted Darwin, the city council is continuing to restore and protect the city from dangerous trees.
A report to council suggests staff would undertake biannual assessments of dangerous trees and would work out a strategy to deal with removal or retention of large trees such as African mahoganies.
Through the council report, Darwin general manager of engineering and city services Ron Grinsell said 91 of council’s 201 parks had already been deemed to be safe.
“The remaining 110 parks were found to contain a total of 619 trees which may, hypothetically, pose a threat to a principal residence or power line during a cyclone or severe weather event,” he said.
“Of the 619 trees assessed for risk, 588 were found to be as low as reasonably possible … control measures were enacted either through pruning or removal (of the 31 trees of higher risk).”
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However, Mr Grinsell said it was important to ensure greenery and shade was maintained and that trees such as African mahoganies weren’t removed without proper assessment.
“If the precedent were set whereby trees were to be removed based purely on perceived risk of their species and/or proximity to private property principal residences or power lines, there would be potential for a tremendous reduction of Darwin’s urban forest tree canopy,” he said.
“The ability (for trees) to provide shading and cooling across the municipality through tree vegetation would not be replaced for many years, even decades.”
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Council will decide on the best management for trees at Tuesday night’s meeting.
Originally published as Darwin council plants seeds of dangerous tree management plan
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