Community
10 October, 2024
Trees on notice
DESPITE their beauty, and providing shade for pedestrians and parked cars, 14 mature trees in the centre of Port Douglas are earmarked for removal because of their destructive root systems.
A Douglas Shire Council spokeswoman said the trees lining Mowbray St between Davidson and Garrick streets were Calophyllum inophyllum (Beauty Leaf), and while they “looked beautiful” they were “unsuited to the urban landscape”.
“Their surface roots are very destructive. The roots have lifted sections of the footpath, interfered with driveways, and badly dislodged the grass pavers in place to provide a solid base for parked cars,” she said.
“It creates trip hazards for people walking along the path and when people exit their vehicles, they are required to navigate unlevel ground.”
The trees, at about 30 years old, were also nearing the end of their life, and council expected them to die within 10 years, creating further hazards with dropping dead branches.
A community ‘have your say’ on the council’s website invited public comment, but by Thursday of last week had only garnered eight responses.
Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said the responses so far had revealed four people against the tree removal, three supporting, and one “ambivalent”.
She said information had been uploaded on the website, Facebook, and the newsletter, and the 10-day window for consultation had been adequate.
“Council finds that people who are interested in an issue respond almost immediately.”
Responses closed on Friday last week, and council would now weigh up its options.
“We need to consider the feedback before coming up with alternatives,” Mayor Scomazzon said. “Some people have suggested alternatives which can be considered.
“With all proposals, there’s always alternatives, including ‘do nothing’, but until we collate the feedback we can’t speculate on Council’s response.”
The proposal includes a staggered approach to the tree removal and replacing them with narrow-leaf paperbark trees (Melaleuca leucadendra) which are “more suited to the urban landscape and are the same species as planted along Garrick St”, Mayor Scomazzon said.
This would see four trees causing the most damage removed in 2024 and replanted immediately with new trees.
More trees would be replaced three years later, and this would be repeated until all 14 trees were gone by 2034.
“Essentially, replacement trees will be interspersed with existing trees, helping to maintain the overall tree canopy and ensuring there’s no significant visual gap in the streetscape,” the Council spokesperson said.
Another approach was to “start at one end and work our way down the street”. This would provide new trees with full sun, improving their growth and establishment rate.
“The downside is the real problem trees would remain for another six-plus years. Some people would argue Melaleuca leucadendra is generally tolerant of a range of growing conditions, including partial shade.”
The spokeswoman council was interested in hearing all opinions.
