Mount Maria resident claims council removed environmentally-protected trees

A Mount Maria resident is furious at Gladstone Regional Council after workers removed native trees from her environmentally-protected property.

Sharon Carrick claimed council workers had removed trees in front of her Tableland Road property, arguing the trees did not affect driver's safety.

A Mount Maria resident is furious at Gladstone Regional Council after workers removed native trees from her environmentally-protected property.

Sharon Carrick claimed council workers had removed trees in front of her Tableland Road property, arguing the trees did not affect driver safety.

“It is not required at all, I asked them not to cut them as under the Australian Constitution I own to the middle of the road,” she said.

“I’m fully aware of the need for driver’s safety as well as my own but they have no need to cut down native trees as the road edge is clear.”

Ms Carrick claimed council only maintained the road at tax time otherwise it would be up to her as a property owner.

A Gladstone Regional Council spokesman said council was undertaking clear zone clearing work on Tableland Road under contract from Transport and Main Roads.

The spokesman said clearing of the road reserve was exempt under the Vegetation Management Act 1999.

A TMR spokesman said roadside hazard clearing was only being conducted within the state-controlled road corridor, and not on private property.

“Safety is our top priority and delivering programs to remove roadside hazards throughout Queensland makes our roads safer for all users,” the TMR spokesman said.

“We contracted Gladstone Regional Council to conduct roadside hazard clearing within the clear zone as part of safety works along about 40 kilometres of Bundaberg-Miriam Vale Road.

“Clearing the width outside the road ensures it is free of obstructions and provides an area within the reserve that is clear from fixed and rigid objects.

“A clear zone allows motorists to recover and avoid a serious or fatal crash should their vehicle leave the road for any reason.”

The TMR spokesman said an environmental survey was conducted last March to ensure all environmental and cultural heritage obligations were met.

He said a qualified spotter and catcher was present during the clearing to protect wildlife and all wildlife was released into the surrounding environment on the advice of a qualified contractor.