Trees to get the chop
A GROUP trying to protect “beautiful and historic” trees on a picturesque Far North street believe an alleged tree poisoner’s wish has been granted with a row of rosewoods to be axed.
Save the Rosewoods founder Danielle Piat, whose father planted the trees almost three decades ago, has also questioned why Douglas Shire Council is yet to explain the cause of their destruction, more than a month after sending samples off to be tested.
Ms Piat said the chopping down of half the trees on Warner Street was “soul destroying” and has vowed to never drive down the road again.
She’s also called for police involvement if it’s proven the rosewoods have been deliberately sabotaged.
“Whoever has wanted these trees gone has got what they’ve always wanted,” she said. “I have reflections of meetings we had on the street a couple of years ago and a lot of people just wanted them removed.
“The community deserves to know what exactly has happened, if they were poisoned or not.”
A council commissioned arborist report found “about 50 per cent” of the trees should be removed because of the presence of unstable deadwood.
A previous report also stated they were “likely poisoned”.
A council spokesman said they were still waiting for test results to determine the exact cause of the deterioration, which were expected “in two to three weeks”.
Mayor Michael Kerr said the trees would be replaced with six-metre-high rosewoods.
“Planting a nice set of replacement trees will be absolutely vital to restoring the streetscape,” he said.