‘Leave them alone’: Last gasp efforts to save Gympie’s Mary St trees

Gympie Landcare nursery manager Andrew Mackenzie has backed calls from Gympie Chamber of Commerce president and Mary St trader Tony Goodman to secure a stay of execution for the “hidden gems” of the CBD, due for removal on Sunday morning.

A Gympie tree and plant expert has joined the last-ditch attempt to save two “iconic” leopard trees on Mary St from a controversial removal plan set to take place at the weekend.

Gympie Landcare nursery manager Andrew Mackenzie on Thursday (August 19) backed calls from Gympie Chamber of Commerce president and Mary St trader Tony Goodman to secure a stay of execution for the “hidden gems” of the street.

The planned termination of the trees is marked for Sunday morning (August 22).

Mr Mackenzie slammed the council’s explanation that it was digging up the trees on health and safety grounds, saying current and future issues with the trees could be easily averted with “simple maintenance”.

“From Landcare’s perspective we support native plants, and we encourage people to grow native plants, but in this instance I believe they’re not doing any harm, so leave them alone,” Mr Mackenzie said.

“There are ways to maintain them safely, efficiently and have no more worries with footpaths lifting or seed pods landing on people or any of that sort of thing, it can be fixed. You don’t have to cut the bloody things down.

“As I understand it they’re going to replace them with magnolia, which is ridiculous. They only grow to 4m maximum, it’s a very poor choice of replacement tree.

“There’s nothing wrong with those trees that a little bit of maintenance won’t fix, at very little cost to council.

“How many trees are we talking about? Two. It’s 10 minutes of maintenance every month.

“They’re beautiful trees.”

Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig.

The trees, located outside the Mia Bella jewellery shop, are scheduled to be replaced by two teddy bear trees a week after their removal on Sunday morning.

Mayor Glen Hartwig said last week their roots were causing damage to underground infrastructure and shifting the pavement, creating a safety hazard.

The majority of councillors supported the decision to remove and replace them, though Division 8 incumbent Bob Fredman said councillors had “had no say in the matter”.

An emotional Mr Goodman said he felt as if he was losing two “old mates”.

“It was only two weeks ago the council put out a flyer to all the traders. There has been no public consultation on this, and the council felt they didn’t need to do that,” Mr Goodman said.

Gympie Landcare president Ernie Rider (left) planting trees with Member for Wide Bay Lew O’Brien.

“All we’re asking for is a stay of execution and a moratorium so we can discuss things.

“I’ve got 32 traders on board and they’ve only got three.”

Mr Goodman claimed he had been told by another tree expert that the two trees had “a couple hundred years” left in them.

“There’s nothing wrong with them. Sure, they need some good pruning, and maybe we need to have a look at the roots,” he said.

“I think I’m fighting a losing battle, but I’m pulling up all the stops. I’m trying to keep Mary St alive.

“All the tourists who come through my business, from outside the region, are just blown away by the look of the street. I’ve had some say it’s the best kept secret in Australia.

“Mary St isn’t Mary St without them.

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“I’m voicing the silent majority of the street. But they (council) just brushed it off when I asked them for a stay of execution.

“I see them as two old mates that have been around for 30 years, it’s like losing two old mates.”