Public tree removal in Enmore

Small-leafed Peppermint tree for removal in Harrington Street Enmore. I wonder how long the other mature Small-leafed Peppermint tree behind this one will last. 

Marrickville Council has given notice of their intention to remove a Small-leafed Peppermint (Eucalyptus nicholii) outside 4 Harrington Street Enmore.

They give the following reasons for removal –

• “Subject tree is in severe decline, with several internal defects.
• Identified for removal under Street Tree Inventory 2012.
• Tree in its current condition poses an unacceptable risk to the public, property and infrastructure.”

Council says they will replace with a Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) in the 2016 Planting Program.

I had a look at the tree, but as the problems are internal, I could not see anything wrong.

There have been quite a few Small Leafed Peppermint trees removed throughout Marrickville LGA since Saving Our Trees started. Decades ago some forward-thinking Tree Manager had many of them planted throughout the municipality & the community has enjoyed these trees. So have the wildlife because they are great food & habitat trees. Unfortunately, many of this species seem to be coming to the end of their lives & need to be removed.

Researching the Small Leafed Peppermint I found that this tree is ‘Listed as Vulnerable’ by the Department of the Environment. See – http://bit.ly/1EcnCJc

This makes me wonder why Marrickville Council would not replace each Small Leafed Peppermint tree with another of the same species instead of replacing with an exotic species like the Jacaranda.  As pretty as the Jacaranda tree is, it cannot serve anywhere near the same environmental function to support wildlife as an Australian native tree that is listed as vulnerable. Small Leafed Peppermint trees have performed well as street trees in Marrickville municipality for decades.

The deadline for submissions is Tuesday 25^th August 2015.

A Jacaranda planted a few metres away from the tree to be removed. Council must have run out of mulch.

Three other newly planted Jacarandas in Harrington Street.

 

Public tree removal in Enmore

Weeping Bottle Brush tree in Browns Avenue Enmore

Marrickville Council has given notice that they intend to remove a Weeping Bottle Brush (Callistemon viminalis) outside 18 Browns Avenue Enmore.

They give the following reasons for removal –

• “Active crack in main trunk causing the tree to be structurally unsound.
• The tree poses an unacceptable level of risk to the public & property.”

Council says they will replace this tree with a Spotted Gum (Corymbia maculata) as part of the 2015 Street Tree Planting Program.

I looked at this tree & wondered why Marrickville Council chose removal of a healthy mature tree rather than doing some arborism work to retain the tree.

It appears to me that the one of the trunks could be pruned to reduce weight & the crack made safe by bracing it. Cables could also be used if necessary.  If Council can do it for a massive heavy Fig tree in Camperdown Park, then it should be a breeze for a light tree such as this one.

It costs Marrickville Council a minimum of $1,000 to plant a street tree, plus the costs to remove the old tree.  I wondered whether it would it cost the same or less to have the tree managed rather than removed & why removing the tree appears to be option one.   Still, the Spotted gum is a great tree for biodiversity & will reach a greater height than this Weeping Bottle Brush.

The Spotted Gum is a tall growing tree with a straight trunk native to open forest in Queensland, New South Wales & Victoria. It has smooth white, grey or pink bark with attractive spotty patches. It produces small, white flowers from winter to spring offering food for wildlife.

The deadline for submissions is Friday 27^th March 2015.

Showing the crack. Removing the girdle root would also help this tree.

 

Public tree removal in Enmore

This is a notable tree in this area because of its size & its greenness.

This is a tall street tree planted directly under power lines – inviting trouble. You can see that it has needed pruning by the power company.

A closer view of the canopy.

Marrickville Council have given notification of their intention to remove an Evergreen Alder (Alnus acuminata) outside 1 Wemyss Street Enmore.

Council gives the following reasons for removal –

• “Tree is in poor health & in decline.
• Decay to upper branches in canopy.
• The tree is causing damage to private property & is unsustainable in its location.”

Council says they will replace this tree with a Chinese Pistachio (Pistacia chinensis), but not when they will do this.

I saw this tree today & was surprised that it is to be removed.  I have never claimed to be an expert in trees, but for most trees Marrickville Council puts up removal, the reasons are obvious.  With this tree I could not see that it was “in poor health & in decline.”   To me the canopy was full with rich green leaves.

I am unsure whether I spotted the “decay to upper branches in canopy.” It’s true that a small number of wrist-size branches that had been pruned did look as though there was some decay, but I could not see any significant decay.  However, I do know that decay can be hidden inside the tree.

“The tree is causing damage to private property ….”   The notice from Council does not specify how or where the tree is causing damage to property & I could only assume it was the front fence they were referring to.

The front garden of the property is elevated well above the footpath & the sandstone fence is functioning as a retaining wall. I would describe this as a beautiful old sandstone wall typical of the municipality.  However, I was not able to see any significant structural damage to the wall.

The wall does have some small cracks in the mortar between stones & this is the type of thing my husband would fill with a small bowl of concrete & a spatula.  I could not see any evidence of other damage to the front of the property, but this is not to say there isn’t.

Whether the damage warrants the removal of a very pleasant street tree is debatable.   However, Council says the tree is in poor health & in decline.

The Chinese Pistachio is an ornamental deciduous tree native to China & Taiwan.  It grows to around 8-metres & has bright yellow, orange & scarlet foliage in autumn.

Chinese pistachio (Pistacia chinensis) is regarded as an environmental weed in New South Wales & the ACT, & is also a potential environmental weed or “sleeper weed” in other parts of southern Australia.”   See – http://bit.ly/190nZHG

I think Marrickville Council should be making better choices – not planting trees classified as ‘environmental weeds’ in this state.

I thought the following comment on ‘Dave’s Garden’ about the Chinese pistachio was very interesting.

“On Jul 21, 2012, TreeGuyCliff from Austin, TX wrote:

If I could rate this tree more negatively than Negative, I would.

   The Chinese pistache has been planted in public spaces & sold in nurseries in Austin, Texas, for at least 20 years.  And it has turned out to be a time bomb, producing an explosively expanding wave of seedlings throughout the parks, preserves, & other natural areas throughout Central Texas.

It was initially recommended for its fall color, handsome form, moderately fast growth rate, tolerance of alkaline soils, & resistance to disease & pests.

Its invasive tendencies quickly moved it from the recommended list to the “do not plant” list. 

  As for whether its seed is viable, each female tree produces hundreds of panicles of seed, each containing hundreds of seeds. So one female tree produces tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of fruits.”

There were other comments classified as ‘negative’ covering different problems with this tree.   You can read them here – http://bit.ly/1AE7SHl

The deadline for any submissions is this Friday 20th March 2015.

I think decay is visible in these pruned branches.

The sandstone fence

Another view of the fence.

A crack inside the gate.

 

Two rain gardens planned for Enmore

This is a lovely rain garden next to Camperdown Memorial Rest Park on Church Street.

Marrickville Council is planning a rain garden for the corner of Scouller Street and Juliett Street Enmore.  They say this rain garden will –

• “Filter stormwater so it is clean before it flows to the Cooks River.
• Improve the looks and feel of the intersection.
• Help to reduce flooding.
• Improve traffic flow.”

There will be a community meeting onsite this Saturday 5^th July 2014 at 10am.

Another rain garden is planned for the Pearl Street end of Alice Lane Enmore. This rain garden will also filter stormwater before it flows to the Cooks River.

There will be a community meeting onsite on Saturday 19^th July 2014 from 9.30am-10.30am.

RSVP requested for both meetings at – water@marrickville.nsw.gov.au

‘Pavement Graffiti’ posts about Enmore’s tree pits

Artist’s impression of the new & improved streetscape of Cavendish Street.  Image from Marrickville Council used with thanks.

Here is a great post on local blog ‘Pavement Graffiti’ about the tree pits Marrickville Council recently installed in Cavendish Street Enmore.  The post has lots of photos too.

See – http://www.meganix.net/pavement/2014/06/08/what-lies-beneath/

 

Public tree removal in Enmore

Marrickville Council has given notification that it intends to remove a Grey Ironbark (Eucalyptus paniculata) in Enmore TAFE Park, Sarah Street Enmore.

Council gives the following reasons for removal –

• “Tree is structurally compromised with extensive internal decay and borer damage.
• History of multiple branch failures.
• Pruning to mitigate risk would adversely affect the tree.
• Tree poses a risk to public safety.”

They say they will replace with a Sydney Blue gum (Eucalyptus saligna), but not when this will happen.

The deadline for any submissions is Friday 30^th May 2014.

Public tree removal in Enmore

Sourced with thanks to Marrickville Council.

Marrickville Council has given notice that they intend to remove a Hill’s Weeping Fig (Ficus macrocarpa var. hilli ) outside 25 – 27 Cavendish Street Enmore.

Council gives the following reasons for removal –

• “Tree has outgrown the location & is unsustainable.
• Tree is causing significant damage to public & private infrastructure that cannot be overcome by any other means.
• Major branches have been identified to have high failure potential due to structural weakness.”

Three other mature Hill’s Fig trees have already been removed from Cavendish Street.

Council says the fig tree will be replaced as part of a full street upgrade that includes the planting of three trees in the road shoulder with a structural soil. The tree species is to be Weeping Lilly Pilly (Waterhousia floribunda) in super-advanced 800L container size.

The Weeping Lilly Pilly trees will be planted in tree pits in the road.  If I remember correctly each tree will have 20-square-metres of soil in which to grow.  This is a new approach to tree planting by Marrickville Council that should see more large street trees being planted using a system that prevents root damage to infrastructure & which provides decent soil for them to grow in.  I am happy about this & hope to see it become the norm.

Using super advanced trees is also a great move.  This has been done recently in parks, but it is the first I know of where trees of this size will be used in street tree plantings.  It will produce an immediate & positive effect on the streetscape & should prevent tree vandalism, as well as give the trees a greater chance of survival.

Only two parking spaces will be lost & all street trees will be surrounded by a water permeable surface.

Council says, “In addition 12 new trees will be planted, with 2 replacing 2 x Prunus sp. located on the northern side of the road.”  I understand this to mean that two other trees will be removed.  The trees on Council’s plan show they intend to plant Gordonias & Prunus.  I cannot read what type of Prunus species though.

Council is also giving residents the opportunity to have verge gardens.  I hope they take up this offer as it is a hot street & verge gardens cool the street, as well as offer beauty.  Less concrete is always a bonus in my opinion.

The Weeping Lilly Pilly is a fast-growing Australian native rainforest tree that grows well in a range of soils & can reach a height of between 8-15 metres.  They have non-invasive roots.  They produce large clusters of white flowers in summer followed by green berries with a pinkish tinge. Both the flowers & the berries are attractive & are preferred food of a range of native wildlife.  They are a lovely tree.

Prunus is not a tree that excites me, but they do flower in spring for around 3-weeks.

Gordonia on the other hand is a much more interesting evergreen tree that is long-flowering from autumn to spring.  The large white flowers with yellow centres fall to the ground sunny-side up & look just like fried eggs.  Gordonia is native to south-east Asia, is slow growing only reaching 3-5 metres in height.  The tree has been renamed Franklinia axillaris.   I wrote about this tree here – http://bit.ly/1kNqIb9

You can read more about Marrickville Council’s plans for Cavendish Street here  – https://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/Documents/Cavendish%20Notification%20Letter.pdf

The deadline for submissions is Friday 21st February 2014.

The plans for Cavendish Street.  Click to enlarge.

Public tree removal in Enmore Park

Enmore Park, as it is now known, is a well-loved park in our community.   It has a strong local history, as it was the first park to be established in Marrickville LGA, opening in two sections in May 1886 & on October 1893.  The park is heritage-listed & occupies 10-acres (4-hectares).  The stone entrance gates were built in 1937.  An undefined number of Port Jackson Figs are heritage-listed under the Local Environment Plan, which was passed in 2011.  See – http://bit.ly/166sA9d

Marrickville Council has given notice of ‘landscape improvement works for Enmore Park,’ due to start in November 2013. Council says, “The works aim to improve tree management & include mulching of tree zones, tree removal & tree planting.  The project involves the removal & replacement of several high risk & underperforming trees.”

Council has identified 15 trees for removal & the reasons given are as follows –

Tree number 1:  T104 on map – Moreton Bay Fig located next to Llewellyn Street – “Poor condition with major internal decay. Only approximately 20% of canopy is live.”

Marked by the red dot. Another tree on the left is to be removed as well.

Not a tall tree & not much canopy left, but holes  & crevices for wildlife. This tree makes me wonder if the trunk cannot be kept, made safe & made into an insitu home for wildlife like microbats & birds that need hollows. There are so few trees that offer this in our LGA.

Tree number 2:  T105 on map – Port Jackson Fig located next to Llewellyn Street – “Canopy dieback & poor overall health.  Extensive epicormic growth. (reactive growth from stems).” 

The canopy is very thin, but would grass removal, pruning, fertilizing, watering & mulching help it to recover?

Tree number 3:  T107 on map – Port Jackson Fig located beside pathway near corner of Enmore Road & Llewellyn Street –  “Severely suppressed by other trees, stunted in growth & poor structure.  Previously lopped & has internal decay.” 

This Fig tree has the most stunning trunk.  It is knobbly all over & stands straight at around 3-metres tall before any branches are found.  My first thought was that if this if the tree could not be saved, then it should not become woodchip.  How often do any of us come across a tree of such an age, historical significance & with such a decorative trunk?

I think it would be relatively easy to keep the trunk & get a local artist to do something creative with it.  If I was doing it, I would randomly remove individual knobs from around the tree & put something of interest inside the hole, then cover with Perspex to keep the hole enclosed & dry.  I could easily imagine involving a school or cultural group to find the items of interest.  It could become a history tree with a story.  There are many public locations across Marrickville LGA where the trunk artwork could be permanently & safely installed.

I will be asking Council to consider saving the trunk for a public artwork.

This tree has a stunning trunk that I think could easily be used for a public artwork if it has to be removed.  The tree next on the right is also for removal.

Part of the canopy.  Many of the Fig trees in Enmore Park have been topped in the past.  Topping has resulted in the type of branch growth you see here.

The whole trunk looks like this right to where the branches form.

Tree number 4:  T147 on map – Moreton Bay Fig (under 5-metres) located next to Llewellyn Street – “Suppressed by neighbouring tree. Mechanical damage to trunk.  Stunted in growth & poorly located.”

Squashed in tight.  Never had a chance.

Tree number 5:  T148 on map – Moreton Bay Fig (under 5-metres) located next to Llewellyn Street – “Suppressed by neighbouring tree. Mechanical damage to trunk.  Stunted in growth & poorly located.”

Not doing well.

Tree number 6:  T148A on map – Moreton Bay Fig (under 5-metres) located next to Llewellyn Street – “Major mechanical damage to surface roots & trunk.  Poor condition & in decline.”

Damage at the base of this tree’s trunk is easily seen.

Tree number 7:  T218 on map – Port Jackson Fig located on the right side of pathway at the entrance gate corner of Enmore & Victoria Roads.  “Tree has extensive internal decay with an internal cavity that extends to ground level & a subsidence split to a major limb. An independent arborist report recommends removal.  Tree failed a Resistograph inspection.”

The red dot indicates the Fig tree to be removed.

Part of the canopy

The lower trunk & root system.

Other side of trunk.

Tree number 8:  T221 on map – Port Jackson Fig located on the left side of pathway at the entrance gate corner of Enmore & Victoria Roads.  “In decline with major dieback & epicormic growth (reactive growth from stems).”

Has a thin canopy. Maybe anothe tree that would benefit from grass removal, pruning, fertiliising & mulching? 

Canopy detail

Very large trunk

Tree number 9:  T227 on map – Moreton Bay Fig located beside Enmore Road.  “Tree has extensive internal decay with large internal cavities.   independent arborist report recommends removal.  Tree failed a Resistograph inspection.”  I do not have a photograph of this tree.

Tree number 10:  T235 on map – Moreton Bay Fig (under 5-metres) located beside Victoria Road. “Tree is in poor condition & suppressed by surrounding trees. Mechanical damage to trunk.”

Planted very close to a substantial tree. Red dot marks the tree up for removal.

Tree number 11:   T236 on map – Moreton Bay Fig (under 5-metres) located beside Victoria Road. “Tree is in poor condition & suppressed by surrounding trees. Mechanical damage to trunk.”

Red dot marks the tree up for removal. You can see the damage to the bottom of the trunk.

Tree number 12:  T300 on map – Pyrus sp. (under 5-metres).  “Poor quality stock, mechanical damage & not performing.”  See image below.

Tree number 13:  T301 on map – Pyrus sp. (under 5-metres).  “Poor quality stock, mechanical damage & not performing.”  See image below.

Tree number 14:  T302 on map – Pyrus sp. (under 5-metres).  “Poor quality stock, mechanical damage & not performing.”  Interestingly, there is another of these trees that looks the same & which has not been included for removal.

All three Pyrus sp. looked like this one. All are about 2-metres or less & all are in flower.

Tree number 15:  T303 on map – Port Jackson Fig (under 5-metres).  “Poor quality stock with root ball defect. Suppressed by neighbouring tree.”   I did not take a photo of this tree.  It looks like the others up for removal along here than are under 5-metres.

A total of 6 trees up for removal are big old Fig trees.  The rest are all sickly & under 5-metres.

Questions immediately come to mind –

• Why did Council purchase poor quality stock?
• Why did Council plant trees really close to each other with the outcome that other trees suppress their growth?  Even I could see that trees had been planted on top of each other & that there was no room for them to grow a canopy without competition.  Same for their roots.
• Why are so many trees affected by mechanical damage?  It is not difficult to find trees that have whipper-snipper or mower damage around the base of their trunk throughout Enmore Park.
• Independent Arborist’s Reports were only mentioned for two of the trees to be removed.  Six of these trees are old & have historic value to Enmore Park & the community.  Was an Arborist’s Report done for all of these more significant trees?

Council do not even say what species of tree would be planted where in the park, though they have marked the places where new trees will be planted on their map.  All, but two, are located along pathways.   I sometimes wonder whether design in Enmore Park aims to accommodate crowd volumes during the Australia Day event.    It is a hot park & most shade is only to be found around the edges next to the street traffic, or, along the pathways next to the foot traffic.

The six older Fig trees have enormous value to the community.  We have already lost 31 trees to make room for the pool construction.  I am told many of them were old Figs.  Another large Fig tree was removed in 2010, as well as a Tulip tree in 2011 & a massive Brushbox in 2013.

If none of these trees are saved, this would be a total of 49 trees removed from Enmore park within the last 3.5-years.   That is an awful lot of trees.  Council said that 34 trees were planted around the Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre when it was completed, but it took me ages to realize 23 of these were actually a Lilly Pilly hedge.

Marrickville Council says they will replace the removed trees with the following species –

• Port Jackson Fig (Fifcus rubiginose) x 3 trees.
• Moreton Bay Fig (Ficus macrophylla) x 2 trees.
• Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) x 2 trees – Deciduous tree native to North America & the extreme south of Ontario in Canada.
• Smooth-bark Kauri (Agathis robusta) x 3 trees – Evergreen coniferous tree native to eastern Queensland & one of the largest trees in the world.   This tree grows straight & tall to a height of 30-50 metres.  While very slow growing, it can eventually grow a massive girth, so it will be interesting to see where in the park Council plans to plant these trees.  Hopefully not somewhere where people will be complaining about falling cones. I am very pleased that Council have planned for large landmark trees that will be one day visible from many parts of the LGA.
• Chinese Elm (Ulmus Parvifolia ‘Todd’) x 3 trees – Small to medium semi-deciduous tree native to China, Japan, North Korea & Vietnam.  Listed as a weed by the Sydney Weeds Committee.
• Black Booyong (Argyrodendron actinophyllum) x 2 trees– Stunning large rainforest tree native to eastern Australia.
• Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimisifolia) x 1 tree – Native to South America, but planted all over the world because of its purple/blue flowers in spring & early summer.  They can be grown from cuttings or seeds & readily spread. Listed as a weed tree by the Sydney Weeds Committee.

I would like Council to –

1. Consider employing an Arborist who is a specialist in veteran trees to see if there is anything that can be done to save any of the older Fig trees.   Many other Councils in Sydney do whatever they can to retain their old trees because of their value.   I can think of a massive Fig in Scotts Park in Sandringham as an example.  The tree has extensive rot.  Rockdale Council filled the cavity with concrete, probably to prevent it being set on fire & planted a replacement nearby.  Judging by the height of the replacement tree, it was planted around 15-20 years ago.  The Fig tree with concrete is very healthy & looks to be around for a long time yet.  Even though concrete is not used these days, this intervention allowed a beautiful & important tree to be retained.  I can’t help but wonder whether, with the advice of a specialist, if any of our important trees could also be saved.  Even one saved would be worth it.
2. Consider using the trunk of tree 107 as a public artwork for the municipality if the tree is removed.
3. Consider making the trunk of tree 104 habitat for hole-dependent wildlife.

I have included two images of Council’s map of Enmore Park below showing the trees for removal & the replacements trees.  You can download your own copy here  –http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/marrwr/_assets/main/lib65091/community%20consultation%20plan.pdf

I thank Council for using sticky pape to fix the signs to the trees.  Any comments or submissions email to – council@marrickville.nsw.gov.au asap, but certainly by the end of October.    I will be putting in a submission.  If you do send in a submission, I would appreciate it if you would c.c. to all the Marrickville Councillors.  Thank you, Jacqueline.

Marrickville Council’s map of tree removal & replacement in Enmore Park. Red Xs mean removal. Green circles means new trees.

Map 2  of tree removals & replacements in Enmore Park

Enmore Park Brushbox tree replaced

An advanced Brushbox tree has been planted by Marrickville Council to replace the other Brushbox that was removed last March. It’s wonderful that this was done quickly. Thank you Council.

Public tree removal in Enmore

What a loss. You can see the massive trunk.

Marrickville Council have given “post notification of emergency street tree removal” at of a Brush Box (Lophostemon confertus ) at the Addison Road entry to Enmore Park.  The tree was removed 15^th March 2013.

Council gave the following reasons for removal –

• “The tree was identified to have extensive damage from borer & decay from white rot at a major branch junction. Treatment of the borer & rot was not feasible as the extent of damage was too widespread with approx. 50% of the canopy dead as a result.
• Important structural wood had been removed (from a ground level to approx 3m) by the decay & a major limb overhanging one of the main entries to the park was at high risk of failure.”

I am happy to say that Council will replace this tree with another Brush Box (Lophostemon confertus) within the next 4-weeks using advanced stock (200L).