‘Battle of the arborists’: Fate of historic tree hinges on report
Accusations of a “cavalier” attitude to the preserving of old growth trees have been levelled at council following action toward the removal of another historic Cairns tree last week.
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
ACCUSATIONS of a “cavalier” attitude over the preservation of old growth trees have been levelled at Cairns Regional Council following action towards the removal of another historic Cairns tree last week.
Cairns Regional Council undertook “emergency” deadwood pruning of a tree outside the Freshwater Tennis Club on May 13 after a branch dislodged and fell on a car.
Ahead of the Freshwater Festival an exclusion zone was set up around the 60-70-year-old tree before a decision to be made on tree’s removal based on resistograph testing and an arborist report.
Lacking confidence that the council will prioritise the preserving the tree, Freshwater resident Paul Matthews – fighting to save the tree from the axe – has commissioned an independent analysis.
“It’s a battle of the arborists at 20 paces,” he said.
“It is a beautiful old tree, we love our trees in Freshwater and I am concerned a about a cavalier attitude from council.”
Based on the certificate five rated arborist findings, Mr Matthews said the tree could be saved by mulching and allowing better root access to water and oxygen.
“(The arborist) said get rid of the crusher dust and stop cars parking under the tree and it will come back,” he said.
“I’m sure once we get a rehab plan a lot of locals will help with that.”
However Mr Matthews was concerned given the high profile removal of an ancient melaleuca tree at Palm Cove in 2020, the felling of a 100-year-old fig tree on Collins Av this year and the possible removal of the T5 fig tree at the Cairns Library.
“I am concerned there seems to be an addenda, (council) are certainly risk averse in regard to public liability,” he said.
Additional tree removals include three large sea poison trees expected to be felled on Monday to make way for lighting upgrades at Anzac Park on Spence St.
Chief executive Mica Martin said the council strives to protect trees and removal is a last resort.
“All other options are assessed and used in preference to removal wherever reasonable,” she said.
“Council is guided by legislation, Australian standards, and its own responsible tree management policies, guidelines and tools, which places high value on trees.”
Freshwater Festival organiser Kane Brown said he would be disappointed to see the Freshwater tree removed but accepted the loss on safety grounds.
“The branch that fell was big enough to kill a small child,” he said.
“We are sad to see it go, but you have to be glass half full and look to the future about what is going to replace it.”
Cairns lifestyle and community director Destry Puia said the outcome of a council tree report will guide a decision about the Freshwater tree and the independent report would also be considered.
An onsite meeting at the tree is planned for next week at which Mr Matthews was hopeful a plan to save the tree could be negotiated.
Originally published as ‘Battle of the arborists’: Fate of historic tree hinges on report
Cairns FM89.1 celebrates four decades riding the airwaves
ON February 8, 1985, Cairns made radio history when it launched its first local High Fidelity Stereo FM station – 4CCR – now Cairns FM89.1, 40 years later the team are still thriving as ‘the voices of the community’ across our airwaves.
‘We can’t fall apart now’: Mud army mobilised for Cardwell clean up
Questions have been raised about how a Far North council has managed a Cardwell flood disaster as residents now start out on the long road to recovery by moving mountains of waterlogged possessions and mucking out homes coated in mud.