Grand paperbark set to go
Days numbered for sick ‘champion’ tree
D-DAY is looming for a giant paperbark tree that has been earmarked for removal from Palm Cove’s waterfront.
Cairns Regional Council is awaiting a report by an independent arborist who has assessed the ageing melaleuca on the corner of Williams Esplanade and French St.
The massive tree is riddled with a fungal disease, and the council has suggested it needs to be chopped down for safety reasons.
So far, the council has spent more than $50,000 over the past 15 years trying to extend the life of the paperbark.
A council spokesman said the arborist who had been contracted to make another assessment of the tree inspected the site early last week and had reviewed previous arborists’ reports.
“He is now preparing his report, which will guide council’s actions,” the spokesman said.
The tree is regarded as a “champion”, on the National Register of Big Trees.
The broad-leaved paperbark has been measured to have a circumference of 8.5m and height of 28m, a recordbreaker among its species.
Register co-ordinator and Sydney-based dendrologist Derek McIntosh said he was disappointed to hear the melaleuca would likely be chopped down. “It’s always terribly sad when you hear about this sort of thing,” he said.
“But usually there’s a good reason why trees like this need to be chopped down.
“It’s still devastating, because it’s a paperbark, and a beautiful one.”
Palm Cove is famous for its beachfront paperbarks, some of which are estimated to be more than 400 years old.
IT’S STILL DEVASTATING, BECAUSE IT’S A PAPERBARK, AND A BEAUTIFUL ONE.
editorial@cairnspost.com.au facebook.com/TheCairnsPost www.cairnspost.com.au twitter.com/TheCairnsPost