Wallangarra White Gum outside 19 Audley Street Petersham

Marrickville Council intends to remove a Eucalyptus scoparia (Wallangarra White Gum) outside 19 Audley Street Petersham.

They give the following reasons:

  • • Extensive internal decay caused by Phellinus fungal decay pathogen. The presence of this pathogen is evidenced by numerous ‘bracket’ fruiting bodies along the trunk of the subject tree. There is no cure for this parasitic fungal pathogen & trees affected will eventually fail due to the reduction in strength of the heartwood caused by the spread of the pathogen.
  • • Extensive basal decay which has predisposed the tree to predictable failure due to hollowing & reduction in strength of heartwood.
  • • Extensive dieback of canopy & excessive epicormic shoot growth indicating extreme/ terminal levels of physiological stress.

They intend to replace it with an Angophora costata (Sydney Red Gum), but don’t say when they plan to plant this tree.

I went to visit the tree today.  It has been poorly pruned in the past with many thick branches on one

The dark half-moon shape is a fungus. There are a number of these along the trunk

side removed & leans as a result.  The tree is quite tall, at least 10 metres & has a lot of foliage at the lower third of the trunk. The upper part of the tree has extensive die-off, which has been happening for a number of years.  The ‘bracket’ fruiting bodies are clearly visible on the trunk & start at an area that looks to me like a past major injury.  This tree is not in good condition & I agree with Council that it should be removed.  I hope they do not wait too long before they plant the replacement tree.

I am pleased to say that once again Council used sticky-tape to attach the notices of removal on the tree & both were still attached.  This looks to be a permanent change away from the practice of nailing the notices, so I thank Council for this. I also thank Council for giving detailed information explaining why the tree should be removed.  This is also a positive & inclusive change.

The deadline for submissions is 23rd June 2010. I will not be putting in a submission.