Shockwaves rippled through the community this week with the news two trees were to be removed from Raglan Parade. RACHAEL HOULIHAN reports.
Warrnambool residents have an affinity with the city’s soaring trees.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The stunning Norfolk Island pines are synonymous with the drive into the city and the Botanic Gardens is home to an original Lone Pine, a powerful symbol of the past.
Responders to the city council’s Warrnambool 2040 plan highlighted the natural environment as a high priority and as an important factor to well-being in the future.
So, it’s no surprise that residents were outraged at the news this week that the council planned to fell two Moreton Bay fig trees at the Raglan Parade/Banyan Street intersection.
The council cited aesthetic and safety concerns as the reasons for removal.
But, as this community is wont to do, people rallied. A petition was set up pleading with the council to rethink its decision. It attracted more than 2100 signatures and it seems that people-power has worked, for now.
The council has since announced it has put off cutting down the heritage listed trees, saying more community consultation was required.
The trees are aged between 80 to 100 years old and have been aggressively pruned so as not to interfere with powerlines.
Scarlett Patrick initiated the petition, and said “if there is a conflict between the underground services and the trees, why do the trees lose out?”
A council document says it uses the Revised Burnley Method (Moore) to calculate the value of street trees, however a council spokesman said it was more typically used when land developers applied to have trees removed.
“This forms the basis for negotiations around replacement plantings,” the spokesman said. “Council already has in place its own offset planting program that ensures that the number of trees planted greatly exceeds any that council removes.”
He said the council had not had the two Moreton Bay figs valued but “they have had their health independently assessed by Homewood Consulting”.
“The trees are considered to have a life expectancy of an additional 20-plus years,” he said.
The spokesman said the cost of removing the trees and removing dead wood from neighbouring trees was in the order of $7000 to $12,000 depending on when the work was done.
“The work is more costly when done on weekends but this may result in less disruption to traffic,” he said.
The council will now seek community feedback on the proposal to remove the Moreton Bay figs.
“This will be included with an engagement process that seeks feedback on proposed street tree plantings for Banyan Street between Raglan Parade and Merri Street,” he said.
He said since August 2013 council had planted in excess of 2280 trees in parks, streets and open spaces.
He said from time-to-time the council must remove trees that were dead, dying or dangerous.
One of our greatest assets
The city council has a strict set of regulations and guidelines in regards to street trees.
Thousands of trees across the Warrnambool City Council municipality help to create a welcoming environment.
Before the two Moreton Bay fig trees reprieve, the council’s city infrastructure director Scott Cavanagh said the decision to remove the trees was not taken lightly.
“Whilst an unfortunate outcome, the removal of these two trees will improve the visual appearance of the avenue, improve traffic sight lines, and allow for footpath replacement and landscaping works at the intersection,” he said.
The council makes and adopts its street tree planting and management policy with the current document adopted in May 2017.
It acknowledges street trees are valuable “community assets that positively contribute to the well-being of the community, and to the built and natural environment”. “Council is committed to planting and maintaining street trees which are visually, historically, or environmentally valuable to the community,” the policy says.
“Council will consult and engage the community and affected landowners where large scale plantings, significant streetscape works or tree removal works are to take place.”
The policy also says trees are only to be removed under certain circumstances.
“Council will only remove street trees that are in poor health, or which council believes pose an unacceptable risk to the community, or as part of a broader streetscape renewal,” it states.
“Street trees are not removed for trimmed to facilitate development or to enhance vistas for property owners.”
Another council document, the street tree planting and management guidelines, says “Warrnambool’s trees are one of its greatest assets”.
“Removal of trees from nature strips and parks is potentially the greatest cause of conflict in the management of the council’s trees,” it says.
“Prudent tree management requires council to assume that every tree, no matter how insignificant it may appear, has some value to someone. It sometimes becomes necessary to remove trees, either because of a problem with the tree itself, or to facilitate development or installation of infrastructure.
“The concern associated with the removal of trees can be minimised through proper consultation with the community and a demonstration of the importance of trees by council and the communication of these views to the community.”
The guidelines state the council will not remove a tree because it has falling leaves, bark, twigs, fruit or flowers, there is a failure to establish grass under the tree, obscuring vistas, perceived aesthetic concerns and perceived allergies.
Getting the axe does not go down well
History has shown when trees across the region get the chop, the community fires up.
The iconic tunnel of cypress trees at the southern end of Port Fairy’s James Street were removed last year.
Two arborists’ reports recommended the removal of the 80-year-old trees due to the risks they presented from falling limbs.
The decision to axe the trees infuriated the community and a public petition was started, but it couldn’t save the Cypress trees.
The council consulted the community about the replacement species, which have now been planted.
Trees lining Warrnambool’s Liebig Street were also removed last year as part of the city centre renewal project.
Some residents had concerns about the look of the street with no trees, saying they should have been “worked around”.
They were replaced with chanticleer ornamental pear trees.
Two rows of cypress trees along Mortlake Road, on the boundary of a housing estate, were removed in 2014 to make way for a new service road. Residents said the trees provided a “children’s wonderland” where kids played.
Mortlake’s avenue of honour is also going to be chopped down, as 21 have Cypress Canker disease.
The council want all 191 trees in the avenue to eventually be replaced by spotted gums and will engage an aborist to prepare a report concerning the replacement, with it to form part of an application to Heritage Victoria for a permit to go ahead with the removal works.
Councillors voted to replace the Monterey Cypress trees in the avenue of honour with spotted gums.
This decision was made despite the Mortlake RSL and Heritage Victoria informing the council it wanted the sick Monterey Cypress trees in the avenue of honour to be replaced with the same species.