Local tree news

1.   Big congratulations to Marrickville Mudcrabs for winning have the Urban Landcare Group of the Year award from the Sydney Metro CMA.  Photos on Canterbury Council’s Flickr site –  http://www.flickr.com/photos/canterburycity/sets/72157626856040914/

multi-coloured jewels on a bed of grass

2.   In a great move, the City of Sydney Council is going to install closed-circuit TV cameras to deter tree vandals at Blackwattle Bay Glebe. 34 trees were poisoned here & the replacement trees were also  vandalised. The Council will replant trees once the CCTV cameras are installed.  They are also employing Rangers to do night patrols to catch tree vandals.  Clover Moore said, “The city is committed to increasing our green canopy for all residents to enjoy, with plans to plant more than 1,300 trees this year & improve our green spaces.”  The article said tree vandalism is a serious offence with a “maximum penalty of $110,000 in the Local Court & $1.1million in the Land & Environment Court.”    http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/city-special-branch-tackles-tree-vandals/2007/05/26/1179601729041.html

3.   Mosman Council has a webpage called ‘Big Ideas for Mosman.’ One of the ideas is to plant fruit trees in public places.  This is an initiative I see happening a lot overseas.  Fruit trees are also being planted as part of Sydney of City Council’s ‘Sustainable Streets’ project.

4.    Myrtle Rust, a serious fungal disease of plants, has been confirmed in world heritage listed Lamington National Park. It can have devastating affects in forests – “deformation of leaves, heavy defoliation of branches, dieback, stunted growth & plant death.” http://www.mysunshinecoast.com.au/articles/article-display/national-parks-on-alert-after-myrtle-rust-detection,20931

sapling Cooks River

5.   The NSW government has rezoned to allow 2,500 new apartments near Batten Reserve Lane Cove. A consultant’s report recommended removing more than 80% of the trees in Batten Reserve to reduce the risk of bushfire. Batten Reserve is a stunning & important piece of Sydney’s bushland. To think of it being cleared like this is alarming & very sad.  “The council (Lane Cove Council) was particularly angry about the suggestion the tree canopy in Batten Reserve be reduced ‘to between 15 per cent & 30 per cent,’ which could lead to 85 per cent of the trees being removed from the reserve & trees elsewhere having branches removed within four metres of the ground.”  The Stringy Bark Creek Residents Association are fighting to save the land they have cared for over the past 40 years.  http://sbcra.org.au/    http://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/bushland-doomed-to-build-more-apartments-20110322-1c5a2.html

6.   Port Stephens Council workers chopped down protected koala trees next to Salamander Bay shopping centre. The Council has been trying to sell this land.  The NSW state government is investigating.  http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/port-stephens-council-accused-of-felling-koala-trees/2161784.aspx

7.    Wollondilly Councillors will be deciding whether to chop down 12 Plane trees in the Argyle Street shopping strip in Picton because the trees are causing problems with the road & footpath.  Many residents have called on the Council not to remove the trees.  I wonder how City of Sydney Council manages a city full of Plane trees. http://macarthur-chronicle-wollondilly.whereilive.com.au/news/story/picton-community-opposes-tree-removal/  In an update, the Council has given ‘in principle’ support to do a  staged removal of the 12 Plane trees, but want to meet with residents first.  Clr Read said, “The fruit they (the trees) drop would result in rolled ankles or worse who knows, it could be me it happened to.” http://aap.newscentre.com.au/acci/110524/library/member_organisations/25747386.html

8. National Parks & Wildlife are considering another application to shoot Cockatoos, this time in Potts Point.  This makes me so angry, especially as there are ways to deal with mischievous birds other than shooting them.   http://clrdoutney.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/cockatoos-still-under-threat-another-cull-requested/

9.  Rejoice!  The dispersal of the flying foxes from Sydney’s Botanic Gardens has been delayed for 12 months so they can collect more information on the bats & fit more with tracking collars.  http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/sydney-bats–eviction-order-put-back-20110516-1epaf.html

10.  The Department of Environment & Natural Resources is currently using noise dispersal to evict a colony of 150 grey-headed flying foxes in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. An interesting bat statistic: Hendra virus has killed 4 people in QLD since it was first detected in 1994.  Lightning kills 10,000 people a year worldwide.  http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/noisy-solution-to-botanic-gardens-flying-foxes/story-e6frea83-1226054284855

11.  The City of Perth is planting 85,000 trees this year in the town of Koorda to offset the carbon footprint of Perth vehicles.  In 2009, they planted 85,000 trees in the town of Kojonup. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/26/3228155.htm

12.  Kings Cross residents won their campaign to keep Fitzroy Gardens as it is despite a plan by the City of Sydney Council to remove most of the trees & the historic convict-era bricks from the park. All up the plans & community consultation cost the Council $628,000. http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/moore-backs-down-on-fitzroy-gardens-20110517-1erji.html

13.  17-hectares of Malabar Headland has been classified National Park.  Randwick Council Mayor Murray Matson hopes that the remaining 106-hectares will also be made into National Park.  “Malabar Headland is one of the largest areas of significant natural vegetation within the Randwick City Local Government Area & is home to several species of rare native flora & fauna.” http://thebeast.com.au/news/national-park-no-longer-a-dream-for-malabar-headland/

14.  Sydney Council has completed their first-ever wildlife survey & of the most unusual sighting was a peregrine falcon seen in Ultimo & a red-bellied black snake in the Royal Botanical Gardens. “Sadly, the survey also revealed a noticeable absence of small birds …. Common urban reptiles such as the eastern blue-tongue & eastern water skink were also scarce.
 … this was mainly due to a lack of suitable habitats in our cityscape. Many small birds are reliant on dense shrub vegetation, while reptiles often favour rocky outcrops.”  http://sydney-central.whereilive.com.au/news/story/sydney-teaming-with-animal-life-in-first-wildlife-survey/

Candle Banksia flower - the birds love it