Murgon’s QEII Park upgrade feedback survey results can be revealed

A popular park on Lamb Street, Murgon is getting an $315,000 overhaul with the fate of the park’s popular Moreton Bay figs finally decided.

Councillor Kathy Duff said leaving the three Moreton Bay Figs in their current location would do major damage to underground services, new footpaths and shelters at the QEII Park in Murgon.

The QEII Park at Lamb Street, Murgon, is an integral part of the community, with the popular space hosting weekend markets, Christmas events and precious family time for residents.

In November, the South Burnett Regional Council released a draft plan for a major $315,000 upgrade to the park and sought public opinion on the designs at a community consultation morning on December 5.

Now the results have been released by council and the beloved Moreton Bay fig trees are set to be given the axe.

A council spokesman said the council thanked residents for feedback and ideas to help form the draft concept plans.

A South Burnett Regional Council spokesman said the council appreciated residents’ views on the draft plans for the QEII Park in Murgon.

Residents were provided with four options to choose from when presented with the draft designs.

The park’s three large Moreton Bay fig trees have caused issues due to their closeness to a power line.

The council has put forward an idea for the installation of a root barrier around the trees.

The second option was to relocate the trees to the northern side of the park, the third option was to leave the trees in their current location bearing the risk of damaging underground services and the fourth option was the complete removal of the three trees.

Experts recommended pipes, structures and pathways should not be installed within a radius of least 25m of a fig tree.

About 23.81 per cent of participants said they loved the concept plan.

About 23.81 per cent of participants said they loved the concept plan and 61.90 per cent only liked the concept plan.

A council spokesman said the most difficult question included in the community survey was the removal of the figs and replacement with more suitable species.

“A total of 73.02 per cent of completed surveys agreed to the removal of the Moreton Bay figs and 26.98 per cent disagreed with the removal,” he said.

“Further investigation by Council Horticulture and Parks Technical staff has occurred on the options to place root barriers around the figs or relocate the figs.”

At Wednesday’s council meeting, Councillor Kathy Duff said leaving the trees in their current location would do major damage to underground services, new footpaths and shelters.

“The trees will also impact on the overhead power line running down the centre of the park and will need to be pruned to maintain a 6m clear zone,” Cr Duff said.

“If the trees do eventually have to be cut down, the bigger they are the more it will cost council to remove them.

“The people of the Murgon community I have spoken to want that fig tree to be removed and for a shaded shelter to go in that spot.”

Councillor Jane Erkens said she thought the community really appreciated councillors going to the park and talking with the community.

“I think it was a really great exercise,” Cr Erkens said.

Councillor Kirstie Schuhmacher said the Murgon community really want to see local Indigenous artists involved in the upgrade.

“I hope there might be a future arts project to include more first nations artwork,” Cr Schumacher said.

“It will be very sad and will look very different without the trees but I also recognise that the extensive network of underground infrastructure there.”

The motion was carried unanimously in favour of the fig trees removal, Mrs Schuhmacher hoped the construction would begin soon.