Marrickville Council intends to remove a Sydney Blue Gum (Eucalyptus saligna) opposite 15 Derby Street Newtown.  They give the following reasons for removal –

  • Major stem wound with associated fruiting bodies of decay causing fungal pathogen indicating significant internal decay.
  • Tree presents an unacceptable safe life expectancy.
  • Tree is unsuitable & unsustainable in its location.

Two tea cup sized bracket fungus on this Sydney Blue Gum

Council say they will replace with a Cabbage Tree palm (Livistonia australis), but don’t say when they will do this.

Here is another great example of bracket fungus. The tree is also leaning at an angle & lifting the footpath.

While it is great that Council will be replacing this street tree, I find it interesting that such a small street with a token footpath on the side of the street where the Eucalypt is to be removed has & will continue to have so many street trees when there are so many streets across the LGA where there are few trees even though there is tons of room for them.

The Cabbage Tree palm which will be the replacement tree is an Australian native growing mostly on the east coast.  It grows to about 25-metres in height & about 0.35 metres in diameter. Its leaves look like a fan & in summer it produces spikes that are filled with creamy-white flowers. It will be a nice addition to Derby Street.

The deadline for submissions is Friday 12th August 2011. I will not be putting in a submission.

Showing the Sydney Blue Gum to be removed in Derby Street Newtown