Council considers gum tree removal
Wednesday May 19, 2010
Cobar Shire Council is seeking further advice on the future of three trees at Ward Oval which are posing a potential risk to the public.
Three River Red Gum trees located on the western side of the oval may face removal after a large branch unexpectedly fell from one of the trees, revealing structural issues with the trees.
An arborist has already inspected the trees since the branch fell and has recommended their complete removal.
However councillors at last week’s works committee meeting elected to seek a second opinion in the hope that the trees could be saved if a number of branches were lopped.
Cr Peter Yench spoke out against the complete removal of the trees.
“I think they should be lopped every year—we’ve been doing it with trees around parks for the past 40 or 50 years,” he said.
However the arborist which inspected the trees shortly after the branch fell has advised against lopping the trees, saying it violates Australian Standards.
“This form of tree work creates epicormic regrowth which is much faster and much more weakly attached regrowth,” the arborist reported.
“Therefore this style of tree work creates further associated problems in the long term and may leave council in a compromising position in the long term again if branches were to fail.”
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