20th March 2008, 04:10 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane
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|  Tree Poisoning in Caloundra Sunshine Coast
Quote:
80-year-old tree poisoned
12:00a.m. 11 March 2008
| Roxanne McCarty-O’Kane
The view from Diane Coghlan’s window in Caloundra’s Bulcock Street will never be the same again.
The majestic 80-year-old coastal banksia tree towering over the visitor information centre will be removed today after it was poisoned by vandals. It later died and now poses a safety risk.
Ms Coghlan noticed the tree was not looking healthy a couple of weeks ago, and a recent council inspection confirmed her fears.
“It’s a shame because the trees are what make Bulcock Street great,” she said.
“They provide lots of nice shade and add to the ambience.”
The tree is one of seven recently poisoned in Caloundra, including another banksia in Bulcock Street and five trees at Happy Valley.
Caloundra City Mayor Don Smith said the incidents were not thought to be related.
Mr Smith said the banksias in Bulcock Street were a unique part of the city streetscape and the death of one of the trees represented a loss of a significant part of the city’s “living heritage”.
“It is very disheartening to see these beautiful old trees destroyed in such a ruthless, mean-spirited manner.”
Mr Smith said it was likely the Happy Valley trees were targeted in order to improve someone’s view.
“Regardless of the motivation, there is no excuse for such callous behaviour."
Caloundra Chamber of Commerce president Loretta Searchfield said residents felt strongly about the trees along Bulcock Street.
Ms Searchfield conducted community consultations on Sunday with the Bulcock Street Revitalisation Taskforce to gauge what residents valued most about the area.
Ms Searchfield said there was reason for the banksias to have been attacked.
“There is no point in poising them – they are not obstructing anything, it is just sheer vandalism,” she said.
“Anybody who would poison trees, I don’t care where, are sick individuals.”
Council plans to replace the banksia with a mature tree, but it will take decades before the replacement can come even close to its predecessor.
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Source: 80-year-old tree poisoned | thedaily.com.au |
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