Sunshine Coast Council plans removal of Maroochydore fig tree

In a case of life mimicking art, the Sunshine Coast Council will “pave paradise” and has removed an old fig tree in the heart of Maroochydore to make more room for car parks.

The Sunshine Coast Council has put a barricade up in a Duporth Av car park ahead of the planned removal of an asbestos-ridden building and an old fig tree to make way for more car parks. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The fig tree that the Sunshine Coast Council planned to remove to make way for more car parks has been cut down.

The tree was removed late last week.

Prior to its removal, some Maroochydore residents and business owners expressed their dismay about the Sunshine Coast Council’s plan to tear it down.

The fig tree was in a car park behind Ocean St and the council decided to remove it, along with an asbestos-ridden building at 43 Duporth Av, to make way for more car parks.

Cara Madden, who owns Wax Espresso on nearby Duporth Av, said it was a “real shame” to remove historical old trees.

“A tree, it can’t stand up for itself, it’s been there for much longer than we have and it should be allowed to stay,” she said.

Ms Madden said she would protest against the removal if she got a chance.

“It’s like buildings, when we knock down historical buildings,” she said.

“The coast has gentrified so much already.”

Fig in the Ocean St car park is going to be cut down. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A Maroochydore resident, who declined to be named, received a letter from the council about the planned removal and took to Facebook about it to give the council a thumbs down.

Her post attracted comments ranging from dismay to acceptance of the council decision.

Wax Espresso owner Cara Madden is among many people disappointed with the council's decision to remove a huge fig tree from Ocean St, Maroochydore. Picture: Letea Cavander

One commenter stated it was “such a sad world” while another stated it was a pity relocation of the tree could not occur.

“Remember seeing huge Moreton Bay figs being floated up the Brisbane River years ago … they do need a quarter acre,” they said.

An aerial view of the fig tree, top left, that the Sunshine Coast Council has decided to remove to make way for more car parks. Picture: Google Maps

Another commenter pointed out a fig tree’s root system was “relentless” and human habitat caused the roots to spread “kilometres and kilometres” in drain pipes.

A Sunshine Coast Council spokeswoman said the building was “unoccupied” and posed a safety risk.

She said the community was notified about the plan on April 3.

“This will provide future opportunity for council to extend the existing car park to accommodate the needs of surrounding businesses and residents,” the spokeswoman said.

She said the fig tree was not a native species and was “likely to impact” on surrounding infrastructure.

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The spokeswoman said the council intended to plant 80 trees in the surrounding streets of Maroochydore to offset the vegetation loss.

She said removal on the building and the tree would continue for about three weeks, depending on the weather.

The spokeswoman said the building contained asbestos and would require safe removal in accordance with state government regulations.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast Council plans removal of Maroochydore fig tree