TWENTY-SIX contentious trees in Port Fairy will be removed after a campaign by nearby residents concerned about aggravation of asthma and messy debris.
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The Lagunaria patersonia trees (also know as pyramid trees, Norfolk Island hibiscus, cow-itch or itchy bomb trees) on James and Bank streets triggered a petition from 31 residents to the council in late 2010.
Now the council has announced the troublesome vegetation is to be removed by Powercor contractor VEMCO, which was scheduled to do other tree reduction work in the area in the next month or so.
The council said having the jobs done concurrently would save $14,000.
Shire Mayor Cr Jim Doukas said the trees had been a source of irritation for years.
“Not only are they a safety issue because of their vicinity to the power lines, the public has also had health concerns,” Cr Doukas said.
“We can kill two birds with one stone while the contractor is in the area, which makes it a good opportunity to improve the day-to-day life of the people in the immediate neighbourhood.”
Dates of the work and associated temporary road closures will be advertised once they have been fixed.
Replacement trees will be organised at a later date once a comprehensive street tree management plan is complete and appropriate species have been identified.
