Heatwave triggers mass dieback in Brisbane gum trees

Mass dieback in eucalypts around Mt Coot-tha in Brisbane’s inner west, triggered by heatwaves, have left forest looking “autumnal’’.

Heatwave conditions late last year have severely stressed gum trees in Brisbane’s inner west.

Huge eucalypt trees at Taylor Range in The Gap/Ashgrove should recover from severe dieback, an expert says.

Residents were left in shock after leaves on the trees, clearly visible from Waterworks Rd behind Ashgrove Golf Club, suddenly turned brown, leaving the forest looking “autumnal’’.

Several longtime The Gap residents said they had never seen such a dieback.

Full Digital Access: 50% off for the first 12 weeks (conditions apply)

University of Queensland ecologist Rod Fensham, who visited the area on the weekend and also toured the D’Aguilar Range late last year with an interstate expert on tree deaths, Prof

Belinda Medlyn, said it appeared as if soaring temperatures late last year and persistent winds had scorched vegetation.

“If you look at the longterm rain in the Brisbane area in the last 12 months to three years, it hasn’t been that dry,’’ Dr Fensham said.

“It was much drier in the early-2000s drought.

“Eucalypts can die off at the crown and then re-grow.

Dieback in eucalypts on the Taylor Range in The Gap. The trees are slowly recovering.

OTHER TOP WESTSIDE NEWS STORIES

Outrage at plan for new Maccas in Sherwood

Should election candidates have a plan to fix Waterworks Rd? Take our poll

Labor Lord Mayoral candidate to tip pendulum away from developers

State LNP’s 10-point bushfire plan calls for burn-off KPIs

“It will take months, but the crown can reconstitute itself and as branches die and drop off, that’s when you get hollows forming which animals can live in.’’

Residents posted photos on Facebook on the weekend showing “epicormic’’ growth on some of the seemingly dead trees.

The stubby leaf growth is often seen on eucalypt trunks after fires.

“That’s a further sign the trees aren’t dead,’’ Dr Fensham said.

“More concerning is the mid-storey plants, broadleafed ones up to 4-5m high.

“When I toured Mt Nebo late last year (with Prof Medlyn) they had just gone.

“It’s hard to see how they will come back.’’