Controversial fence to come down on Hervey Bay Esplanade

The Queensland council that spent $70,000 to erect a fence and restore life at the site of repeated mass tree poisonings is pulling the controversial structure down. Read the latest.

A controversial fence, installed after a mass poisoning of trees at Point Vernon, is set to be removed in September 2022.

The fence was installed by Fraser Coast Regional Council at the Mant St site in November, 2020, to act as a deterrent and allow for the site to rehabilitate.

But not everyone was in favour of having the fencing in place.

The fence was a sore spot for many of those in the street, who were concerned it painted them as tree poisoners and affected the value of their properties.

The council spent $30,000 on the “educational barrier” and a further $40,000 of ratepayer money planting new vegetation along the foreshore.

At its meeting in September 2021, the council voted to keep the fence in place for another year to allow vegetation to continue to regenerate without people walking on it.

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said the revegetation and rehabilitation of the area at Mant Street in Point Vernon was progressing well.

“Council installed the fence in November 2020, after the trees at the site were the target of repeated and large-scale poisonings,” he said.

The controversial fence installed at Mant St, Point Vernon, after a mass tree poisoning.

“The temporary fencing limited access to the site while the herbicide in the soil broke down and to protect people from being struck by falling limbs from the dead trees.

“The fencing and educational banner also sent a message that the community will not put up with this type of environmental vandalism.”

Mr Seymour said the council planted more than 2000 seedlings at the site in 2021, and the fencing had helped protect the vegetation as it grew.

“We have seen excellent tree growth rates over the past 12 months, and we are now in a position where we can remove the fence in early September,” he said.

The vegetation has bounced back after the mass tree poisoning at Mant St, Point Vernon.

“This is in line with our expectations when we first installed the fence two years ago.

“It is pleasing that we have seen no further acts of vegetation poisoning along the Hervey Bay Esplanade since the fence and educational banner was installed.

“Other acts of environmental vandalism in this area have also significantly decreased.

“Council will continue to monitor the site and we look forward to the trees continuing to grow and flourish at what is a beautiful and important location along the Esplanade at Point Vernon.”