Council & Business
8 September, 2022
Council reviews historic tree removal decision
The decision to remove a more than 150-year-old tree in Amphitheatre has been paused following a request to council to review the decision. The large peppercorn tree is a fixture of Bakery Park and in August, the Pyrenees Shire Council announced it...
The decision to remove a more than 150-year-old tree in Amphitheatre has been paused following a request to council to review the decision.
The large peppercorn tree is a fixture of Bakery Park and in August, the Pyrenees Shire Council announced it would be removed due to the poor structural integrity of the tree, including a large split in the trunk, wood decay and fungi.
That decision is now on hold following a request to review it, with the tree holding historical value for the community.
It was planted in the 1870s by the Clark family who ran the local bakehouse, which gave the park its name.
In a statement this week, council noted it previously sought advice from an arborist on the health of the tree after being approached by a member of the community about a large crack in its trunk.
“The arborist’s report showed that the tree is in danger of failing and poses a risk to community safety. It found that the tree branches would need to be propped up with up steel supports if it is to remain in place,” council’s statement read.
“In carefully considering this option, council took into account the significant size and cost of these supports and the way they could detract from the ambience of the park. There is also no guarantee this approach would work, meaning the tree could continue to pose a safety risk to the community.
“For these reasons it was decided that the best course of action is to remove the tree and plant an advanced peppercorn to reflect the history of the original bakehouse.”
Since then, council confirmed it received further feedback from the community, prompting it to revisit the issue.
Members of the community are invited to discuss the future of the tree with councillors and council staff at the Councillor Cuppa and Chat at the Amphitheatre Hall on Tuesday, September 13 at 5 pm.