Mary Street leopard trees to be removed by Gympie council

The stunning leopard trees that have created shade and beauty in Mary Street for decades might all have to go because of reported hazards being caused by their roots and seed pods, with two of the biggest ones are already on death row.

They have lined Mary Street for decades, providing shade and a natural beauty to the traditional shopping precinct that has often struggled to maintain shopper numbers in the era of the shopping centre.

They are a boulevard of leopard trees, planted during a former Gympie council’s efforts to beautify and cool the street, but Mayor Glen Hartwig says at least two of them - large specimens outside Mia Bella - must go.

They are damaging city infrastructure and pose a threat to people, he says.

Chamber of Commerce president Tony Goodman, who owns a business in Mary St and has been a strong ally of Mr Hartwig’s, disagrees that the only solution to the problem is to remove the “two beautiful beautiful” trees.

He wants a moratorium placed on the decision.

“I am quite disappointed and disillusioned by this decision,” he said. Replacing the large leopard trees with Teddy Bear trees was not a good idea either, he said.

“They will only grow to 4m high. I am not a tree hugger but I do like trees.”

Removing the leopard trees would affect the CBD streetscape.

“Mary St is famous for its beautiful tree boulevard

“I know there have been discussions that if a tree is dead or dying it will be removed, but these are two beautiful, healthy trees. I hear from so many visitors to the street about the beautiful trees and the quirkiness of the street.”

He wants a moratorium on the decision so that more alternatives can be considered.

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“Unfortunately, the trees are causing too much damage to the kerb/footpath, the underground drainage system and water mains – not to mention the risk for residents using the footpath,” Mr Hartwig said.

“The risk associated is just too great now, we can no longer ignore the issue, I’m not sure how any of us would feel if an older resident had a fall due to the damage from the trees,” he said.

Mr Hartwig agreed that Mary St was renown for its “tree scaped beauty”.

“The program that we need to initiate will maintain this amenity but deal with the serious safety issues that have developed,” he said.

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Louise Angold, who works in a Mary St shop near the trees, said the trees were a health and safety hazard.

Their roots had made the footpath uneven and pedestrians were tripping over.

“Two people have fallen over... and been very badly injured,” Ms Angold said.

“That has to be taken into account.”

Mayor Glen Hartwig.

She said other businesses owners and workers along the street had seen these accidents unfold.

The trees were notorious for dropping large seed pods that posed a safety risk too.

Ms Angold said she liked the trees and the atmosphere they added to Mary St but any solution that involved keeping them had to also keep people safe.

“I don‘t know if there is a solution,” she said.