Residents raise concerns over Palm Cove’s towering paperbarks after debris blockage

Residents have raised concerns over Palm Cove’s towering paperbark trees after a storm brought down large branches and debris, resulting in a road blockage. Now the council has responded.

Residents concerned over fallen tree branches in Palm Cove. Picture: Supplied.

Cairns Regional Council is not considering removing two giant melaleuca trees in Palm Cove after two massive branches fell on a footpath last month.

More than 10 people were seen dragging the large limbs and debris from the Palm Cove Esplanade after a storm in mid-December, raising concerns among residents about the health of several towering paperbark trees in the beachside town.

The council promptly inspected the trees after the incident on December 14.

“There is no evidence of decay in the existing trees, therefore council is not considering their removal,” a spokesman for council said.

Concerned residents clean up fallen tree branches after they fell in Palm Cove. Picture: Supplied.

Concerned resident, Martyn Talisman snapped a few shots in the wake of the incident, which showed a number of people cleaning-up the mess along Williams Esplanade, after the giant branches blocked both the footpath and the road.

Mr Talisman said the busy footpath is often filled with tourists “strolling along”.

“A car would have been crushed and a pedestrian would have had serious injury or loss of life given it took over 10 people to drag the branches from blocking one lane,” he said.

While he “loves the trees” and would hate to see them removed, Mr Talisman said he is worried about the safety of human life.

“They are iconic but not worth the risk they seem to pose to human life,” he said.

Residents concerned over fallen tree branches in Palm Cove. Picture: Supplied.

The incident occurred opposite the stinger nets on Palm Beach during the busy holiday period on December 14, between 2pm-3pm.

A spokesman for Cairns Regional Council said the branch from the melaleuca tree was believed to have been previously damaged by a storm, which resulted in the branch “coming” down during severe weather in December.

“In falling, it (the branch) also broke the branch of a neighbouring tree,” he said.

It’s not the first time residents in Palm Cove have been at odds over the giant trees.

A controversial removal of a centuries-old melaleuca at Palm Cove four years prior in 2020 sparked fierce debates about the preservation of the trees.

The 26m-high paperbark, at the corner of French St and Williams Esplanade, had been monitored by Cairns Regional Council across a 15 year period.

However, due to “extensive and rapid decay” at the base of the tree along with the safety risks associated, the tree was removed.

The removal sparked community outrage, with some claiming the tree was “alive and well” and could have been saved through other mechanisms.

Originally published as Residents raise concerns over Palm Cove’s towering paperbarks after debris blockage