Hands off Burleigh: Local fury as tree loppers move in on foreshore

Burleigh Heads residents have reacted with fury after tree loppers moved in on some of the suburb’s iconic pines this morning. Now council has revealed the reason for the shock move.

BURLEIGH Heads residents reacted with fury as tree loppers moved in on the suburb’s iconic pines this morning.

The Gold Coast Bulletin was there as the upper branches of one of the prominent foreshore features, opposite Burleigh Beach Tower, was felled.

Treeloppers cutting down one of the iconic pines on the Burleigh foreshore this morning

The street had been partially closed overnight for construction work.

One long-term Goodwin Terrace resident, who asked not to be named, joined a building crowd to watch from behind orange tape as branches crashed into the concrete.

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“They certainly don’t look like they’re dead so I can’t imagine why they’d be removing perfectly healthy trees,” she said.

“Are they doing it to improve the view?

“These pines are part of the fabric of Burleigh. Our village lifestyle.

Gold Coast City Council cutting down a damaged pine on the Burleigh foreshore on October 15, 2020

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“We moved here 20 years ago precisely because it wasn’t like the rest of the Gold Coast.

“It’s been chaos the last few months with developments – we have to wait for all the (construction) trucks to (clear the main road) to even get out of the street in the morning.

“They need to get their hands off Burleigh.”

The pine trees are a Burleigh icon Picture: Jerad Williams

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A Gold Coast City Council spokesperson said the work was necessary and it would be confined to just two of the pine trees.

“Two Norfolk Island Pine trees in Burleigh Heads – one in John Laws Park and one in Justin’s Park – are being removed today,” the spokesperson said.

Gold Coast City Council cutting down a damaged pine on the Burleigh foreshore on October 15, 2020

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“Both trees were previously struck by lightning and the top halves of the trees have died and snapped off.

“What is left of both trees is now in decline and in need of removal and replacement.

Both trees will be replaced with the same species in the coming weeks.”

Burleigh’s pines were planted in the 1930s by local shopkeepers. Picture: Jerad Williams

The pines, home to Burleigh’s signature soundtrack every evening as lorikeets return to roost, have been heritage listed for their historical and aesthetic significance.

They were planted by local shopkeepers the Justins family in 1934.