Maggie fig’s fungus doom fires sadness

AN iconic banyan fig on Magnetic Island will be chopped down after it succumbed to a terminal root disease.

Townsville woman Kim Turner, whose father has lived on the Esplanade at Nelly Bay close to the tree for 40 years, said she was disappointed at the decision but the fig was “sadly a fraction of its former glory”.

As a child she would climb the tree most days after school or on weekends, but was spoiled for choice with the beach also in proximity.

“It’s one of the iconic banyans along the beachfront. Many of the island kids used to climb it and probably still do,” she said.

Townsville City Council announced last week it would be removed to protect public safety after the tree, which stands on the esplanade at the end of Yates St, had succumbed to a soil-borne fungus, ganoderma, which causes root rot.

The decision to remove the tree has been recommended by the Townsville City Council’s specialist arborist and follows ongoing monitoring of the tree’s condition since 2012.

Community Health and Environment Committee chair Cr Ann-maree Greaney said the removal of the tree was the last resort but it had been slowly dying, and had now become a public risk.

She said the council delayed an initial plan to remove the tree in March in response to concerns from local residents and conducted further tests on the tree.

Additional tests carried out at the Queensland herbarium in Brisbane confirmed the advanced presence of the fungal disease (ganoderma) in the tree.

Ms Turner said there was visible “rot” in the branches.

“Dad said it dried out during the latest long dry spells and termites also got to it,” she said. “Some of the locals who live nearby tried it to keep it watered.”

She said losing the would be disappointing.

“It’s such a huge iconic tree and probably has the best view of Nelly Bay,” she said.

“There is also a picnic table and barbecue nearby, so many families have had lunch there near its shade. It has fond memories for me of how challenging it was to climb. It’s inspired a lot of artists too; it has quite a ‘Lord of the Rings’ feel.”

Anther banyan fig will be planted in the area, but not in the same location, to avoid contamination of the new tree. tree