Your say: Readers debate over lining more streets with trees

Calls to line more of Toowoomba’s suburban streets with trees in the next few years. HAVE YOUR SAY

HAVE YOUR SAY: HOW EVERY HOUSEHOLD COULD GET A TREE.

Readers have responded after a leading environmental group put forward a report, calling for Toowoomba Regional Council to set tangible targets with more tree-lined streets to double the canopy coverage for each suburb.

Last week, Darling Down Environmental Council released a report calling for Toowoomba Regional Council to reach a 40 per cent canopy coverage for each suburb by 2032.

This means doubling the current tree canopy coverage, not just overall for the city, which could be skewed towards the more established, well-known tree-lined streets of East Toowoomba, but ensuring each suburb reaps the leafy benefits of trees, DDEC co-ordinator Ahri Tallon said.

Darling Downs Environmental Council Coordinator Ahri Tallon at the Darling Downs Environmental Council launch of Keep Toowoomba Cool report calling for more tree cover in the Garden City. Thursday, July 25, 2024. Picture: Christine Schindler

Two years ago, council endorsed a proposal to plant more than a million trees by 2027, despite only sometimes meeting its quota of 5000 trees planted a year.

Should property owners want to hurry up the process, they can apply for a tree to be planted outside their property through council, but will need to commit to 12 months of watering and caring for it.

The city is known for its gardens, and many long-term residents will have marvelled, watching saplings around the city’s parklands turn into established trees.

Despite this, sentiment for planting trees remains varied.

“YES! Plant trees. Please plant trees,” wrote Therese A Houghton.

“No. Thank you. Tree roots invade pipes causing all sorts of problems,” pointed out Cecilia Hall.

Logan Thomas Herbert suggested “council make it easier for you to check where your drains are so you don’t end up planting a tree over the drains and causing a massive issue”.

Karen Kearney wanted a tree on her nature strip, but suggested “council get rid of $250 infrastructure fee then I will water it,”

The species of trees were also discussed, from invasive weeds, to fruit trees, to natives.

“There has to be some common sense on the types of trees. Camphor laurels on the east side are now an environmental menace and the golden rain trees on the west are weeds as well. Council should offer rebates for people having to endure thousands of unwanted seedlings popping up in their gardens,” PaulB43 commented.

Fruit trees were also suggested, with Leila Derksen commenting on how it “benefits us, wildlife and the environment”.

Shannon Michael disagreed and commented: “Eating fruit from trees in public is a good way to get sick.”

“Too many fruits in this town already,” commented Kendall Shore.

The planning and aesthetics of the already established trees in the city were all a point of discussion.

“If council wants to be taken seriously, then they need to increase the lot sizes in their new planning scheme from 500m2 to a minimum of 600m2 and legislation also needs to be in place to prevent the kind of scorched earth environmental vandalism that happened along Reis Road in Highfields where every mature gum tree was demolished for no valid reason,” wrote Peter Whittaker.

“I'll bet council will plant trees under power lines,” wrote Daniel Veit.

“The tree’s on the footpath look ridiculous when they are cut,” commented Emily Jane.

“I have a neighbour who is finding that their solar panels have quite a bit of shade from trees that aren’t even adjacent to the boundary so how will those who have covered their roofs with solar panels going to feel about neighbours trees casting shadows across the panels almost all year round?” commented Campbell.