Palmwoods
District News

June 24,
1999

Page 1

Anger over loss of aged trees
by Joanna Jones

COUNCIL roadworks in Old Bowling Green Road Palmwoods have resulted in the removal of some very old trees, causing anger and disbelief to some members of the community.

Hunchy resident Trish Swindells had compiled a tree register for the council in 1991 on behalf of the Palmwoods Progress Association, to make council aware of the environmental significance of some of the local trees.

Whilst the tree register was not binding, Ms Swindells said that Maroochy Shire Councillor Geoff Littler had assured her that road crews would be notified, as many of the listed trees were situated on road verges.

Three of the trees felled in the roadworks were on the tree register. Of particular significance and concern to Ms Swindells was the 200 year old Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis) which was removed.

"Habitat trees are very rare and terribly vital to wildlife - with one in four Australian mammals extinct or endangered we should be preserving not destroying their habitats," she said.

"The tree was there long before the road and should be classed as more important than the road. Surely there could have been ways to complete these works without felling these trees."

"You can only protect something if you know it is there to protect. That was the theory behind the Tree Register, to alert council to the fact that these trees were very precious and to be protected at all costs."

Cr Littler said that the council engineers were aware of the age and environmental significance of the tree and did everything they could to try and preserve as many trees as possible.

"Unfortunately, there was no possible way to avoid felling that particular tree, and maintain the integrity and safety of the road," he said.

The roadworks were carried out in order to seal the unsealed part of Old Bowling Green Road, leading to KW Engineering.

According to Cr Littler: "KW Engineering generates about as much traffic as a residential neighbourhood of 25 dwellings and local residents had complained about the amount of dust being emitted."

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