Great news about the Mackey Park Poplars

The fantastic & much loved row of Poplar trees at Mackey Park. On the left are the two Mackey Park Fig trees.

The Mackey Park Poplars from across the river. All the Poplar trees along the river can be seen from some distance. I believe they are iconic to Marrickville’s section of the Cooks River.

I reported on a number of occasions about Council’s intention to remove the poplar trees at Mackey Park.  I first heard this from a staff member at the opening of the Mackey Park on 9^th December 2010.

I wrote, “These trees are being considered for the chopping block because there is belowground infrastructure here & because the soil is poor.  I don’t know enough about the issues to present an argument at this stage.  Just be aware that Council is thinking of removing them.”    I have waited & waited.

In December 2010 a Poplar tree between Mackey Park & Steel Park lost a large branch due to boring insect damage.  I was told this tree was to be removed, but somehow it is still standing there today. See –http://bit.ly/1dneE7L

In January 2011 I wrote about the problem on boring insects affecting the trees of Mahoney Reserve.  Boring insects had also made their way almost to Mackey Park evident by the previous month’s limb drop.  See – http://bit.ly/1cOo9B6

In November 2012  – I mentioned again the planned removal of the poplar trees at Mackey Park.  See  – http://bit.ly/1dYWAkd

Yesterday, 3^rd February 2014, a post was made on Facebook about the rumour of the removal the Poplars at Mackey Park.  I contributed what I had previously been told by Council.  The discussion clearly expressed community opposition to the removal of these trees.

Here is the great news –

Marrickville Council posted on Facebook –

“I’m very happy to let you know that Council has no plans to remove these trees at Mackey Park.

There are plans to remove approx six poplars at HJ Mahoney Reserve around May/June this year. An independent arborist has assessed that they have a significant amount of internal decay and are dropping limbs. Council is currently undertaking consultation with the Cooks River and Environment Committee and will be seeking broader community comment closer to the date.

Please know that the ONLY reason council would consider removing a tree is if it poses a risk to life or property, leaf drop or messy characteristics are never a consideration for removal.  We LIKE trees – honest! Our aim is to increase the canopy.” 

After 3-years of waiting I can now not feel any angst when I ride under these trees as I often do.

I am hoping Council takes it a step further though, as it appears that boring insects have affected a number of the Poplars.  This infestation is treatable, so to my mind, it is a good use of money to do what can be done to save the trees, than allow these destructive insects to continue their travels through the golf course and up through to Mackey Park.

When these six trees Council mentioned are removed it will make a loss of twelve Poplar trees in Mahoney Reserve since 2010.  I think an urgent investment is needed to plant at least the number lost, so that the particular unique & iconic qualities that the Poplars scheme creates along the river is maintained in the long term.  Sparse canopy gum trees will not have the same spectacular & beneficial effect as Poplars at that location.

The Poplars at Mahoney Reserve – a unique feature of the Cooks River

Next door to Mahoney Reserve is Steel Park. The Poplar trees make a massive contribution to both the beauty & experience of this park.

There is an avenue of Poplar trees in a section between Mackey Park & Steel Park. These trees make it a joy to be in this area.

 

 

Local tree news

Pink Grevillea

1. Dr Maxine Cooper, the ACT Commissioner for Sustainability & the Environment has released a report recommending that the Urban Forest Renewal Program be tossed out & instead create a new position of Tree Curator to engage with Canberra residents about public trees.  She also recommends an extra $4 million a year ongoing to look after the 730,000 trees in the ACT. “So it’s like our health, if you look after yourself better & give attention to health, there’s less need for medicine. The same for trees. If you look after trees they actually will last longer.” http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/30/3178188.htm

The Banksias are in flower

2. 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.  Public fruit trees are also being planted as part of Sydney City Council’s Sustainable Streets project.

3. Still with Mosman Council, Brush Turkey chicks have been sighted at Reid Park & Millet Road.  The birds have been recorded in these areas since 2009, but large numbers have not been seen since the Depression when hungry people ate them. Brush Turkeys are protected under the National Parks & Wildlife Act 1974. Male Brush Turkeys continually rake an enormous mound of leaves to keep their eggs at the perfect temperature. http://www.mosman.nsw.gov.au/news/2011/03/28/next-generation-brush-turkeys?utm_source=council-website&utm_medium=share-buttons&utm_campaign=social-media

4. Myrtle Rust, a serious fungal disease of plants, has been confirmed in world heritage listed Lamington National Park. Myrtle Rust affects Eucalypts, Bottle brush & Tea tree as well as other Australian native plants. It can have a devastating affect in forests – “deformation of leaves, heavy defoliation of branches, dieback, stunted growth & plant death.” It spreads rapidly & procedures have been put in place to try to prevent this from happening.  http://www.mysunshinecoast.com.au/articles/article-display/national-parks-on-alert-after-myrtle-rust-detection,20931

Palm tree

On 1^st March 2011 Bio Security announced that Myrtle Rust had been found at a Cairns nursery making this the farthest north detection of the fungus.  Associate Professor Andres Drenth, a plant pathologist at the University of Queensland’s School of Biological Sciences said, “It’s likely to have a substantial long-term impact. It will affect reproductive rates for infected eucalypts. In the next generation, those resistant species will become more dominant & slowly over time you will get a change of species. This will also affect the animals that are dependent on these species.” http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2011/03/01/3151595.htm

5.   Hills Shire Council opened their main street project this week. Unveiled were new street trees & shrubs, new lighting & paving, outdoor-dining spaces & wombat crossings. Wombat Crossings!  How fantastic to have wild wombats in Sydney. http://hills-shire-times.whereilive.com.au/news/story/castle-hills-main-street-to-open-tonight/

6. An undefined number of Poplar trees were chopped down by Meriton  at a Warriewood Valley development site.  Meriton said the tree removal complied with their DA approved by the Planning Assessment Commission & they will replace the trees with native plants. Residents are angry about the tree-clearing saying they bought their properties because of the green leafy view. Now they will be looking onto & into units.  Poplars are big dramatic broad-leafed trees with lime green leaves. They are popular with birds & make the most terrific sound when the wind blows through the leaves. http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/not-a-poplar-move-at-all/

7. Currawong, a holiday park opposite Palm Beach in Pittwater has been purchased for $12.2 million by the NSW state government to be made into a new state park. This has been a long battle to keep this iconic park in the ownership of the people.  http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/currawong-to-become-state-park/

The Cooks River bank near Mackey park was turned into a crime scene last week. It appears a car was driven into the river

8. Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke has ordered the all cows out of Alpine National Park in Victoria by 8^th April 2011. The Victorian government put the cows into the national park in January 2011 as “part of a scientific research.” An Environmental Assessment of the impact of cattle grazing in the park had not been performed. When the paperwork was given to the Minister mid-March he said, “The information that has eventually come from the Victorian government is a joke. For something that is meant to be a university research project, we’re provided with documentation that wouldn’t pass as high school science homework.” http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/government-orders-cows-out-of-victorias-alpine-park/story-e6frf7kf-1226024189122

9. “Gloves are off” regarding community opposition to the Gunns Ltd pulp mill in Tasmania’s Tamar Valley.  Over 1,000 people protested at what will likely be the first of many demonstrations since the Federal government approved the $2.5 billion pulp mill. It’s hard for people to say the protests are just the work of green-left radicals when universally loved ex-Gardening Australia host Peter Cundall was one of the main speakers. I.50-minute ABC News video –http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2011/03/20/3168808.htm

10. Staying in Tasmania – whether you like or dislike Senator Bob Brown, his donation of his Liffey Valley bushland home ‘Oura Oura’ in Northern Tasmania to Bush Heritage Australia is a generous act indeed. The 14-hectare parcel of land is environmentally significant & provides habitat to numerous threatened species such as ‘the tasmanian devil, the spotted-tail quoll, the Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle & the grey goshawk.’ The Liffey River flows through the land. Senator Brown founded Bush Heritage in 1991. http://www.bushheritage.org.au/oura-oura-reserve-handover.html plus a 1.02-minute video showing footage of ‘Oura Oura’ land.

Gum nuts