Tree damage threat
GUSTY weather took its toll on a suburban street yesterday when a large chunk of tree sheared off and blocked the road.
The sizeable limb came crashing on McLeod St, Edge Hill, about 2pm, crushing several wheelie bins.
It is understood that the force of a heavy wind gust was too much for an already weakened limb.
Loppers from Global Foliage Managers were quick to pounce on the roadblock and brought in two chippers to digest the dismembered branch.
Michael Jensen, of Treeworx Cairns, said stormy weather and approaching lows were timely reminders to check backyard trees.
“It is a good idea to take a look,” he said.
“We do a lot of clean-ups and insurance work for those trees that have fallen over in high winds.
“Half the time it is a dead tree or one that is dying.
“Blind Freddy can tell if a tree is dead or going to fall over – it’s pretty hard to miss.”
He said addressing weakened trees could prevent disaster during a storm.
“People should be a little more proactive – it will cost them a lot less in the long run.”
There are a few warning signs to be aware of when checking trees.
“A lot of the time you will see dead wood in trees where the leaves are dropping back,” Mr Jensen said.
“Fungal brackets will look like dinner plates on the trunk – they are easy to spot when you look for them.
“At the bottom of the tree you’ll find whether it is compromised by rot and ants.”
The advice comes as a tropical low continues to develop 320km north-northeast of Cairns.
The system has remained offshore, moving east-southeast. There is a high chance that the low will develop into a tropical cyclone later today.
The as yet unnamed system is expected to bring gale force winds into northern waters. Yesterday it was moving southeast at about 35km/h with 80km wind gusts.
In the Gulf of Carpentaria, a tropical low was located 140km southeast of Weipa and is expected to move southeast and away from the Gulf – there is a very low chance of the system forming into a cyclone in the next 48 hours.