Local trees to live on at zoo
TARONGA Western Plains Zoo’s (TWPZ) waterhole precinct will soon feature three bottle trees which were removed for transfer from Myall Street last week.
Concerned citizens contacted Dubbo Photo News when they saw the trees being significantly pruned and which have been a loved feature in their neighbourhood for decades.
Located on private land, however, the group of five trees which are listed on Dubbo Regional Council’s Significant Tree Register may have been otherwise lost to a Cobborah Road redevelopment, which backs onto the Myall Street neighbourhood.
A zoo spokesperson said the three bottle trees were pruned to prepare for the move and the clippings and branches were fed out to the browsing animal species at the zoo.
They also said in the new year the other two bottle trees will go into the Gateway to Africa precinct, a development of the African Wild Dog exhibit which was also begun last week.
The landowner, Coffs Harbour construction company Betgal Pty Ltd, offered the trees to the zoo during the master planning of the site’s redevelopment.
According to council papers the TWPZ is willing to retain the trees on the Significant Tree Register.
Myall Street residents said Council’s Horticulture and Landcare Asset Coordinator told them it was the best outcome for the trees, but they are saddened by a significant feature of their neighbourhood streetscape being lost to the development.
Palm trees removed recently from the front fence line of Bracken House are already installed at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in the new, under-construction Waterhole precinct.
The zoo spokesperson advised four of the palm trees are already standing and all seven trees will soon be included in the new feature.