Need help to save my tawny frogmouths!!

Frogmouth

Hello all,

I hope someone can help me, I'm trying to find a way of preventing the chopping down of a paperbark tree in front of the unit where I live. The tree is home to a pair of tawny frogmouths, I see them every day roosting in the tree and have become quite attached to them and to the tree. The owners of the units have voted to have the tree removed as they see it as a danger to the building. One of the overhanging branches had evidence of some kind of boring insect at the base and was removed the other day. It was only by chance that I was at home to prevent the whole tree being felled with the poor frogmouths in it!

I can understand that the dangerous branch would have to be removed, but think it is heavy handed to remove the whole tree. The agents for the body corporate are arguing that the tree needs to go because it will damage the foundations of the block of units. The roots have already caused a concrete path right next to the tree to lift and crack, but it's only a path and in my opinion is insignificant compared to the habitat of two frogmouths. I'd happily dig up the concrete myself and replace it with something that can co-exist with the tree. As for damage to the foundations of the units, I don't know what evidence, if any, they are basing this on. The tree is very close to the building (3 or 4 metres) so I think their line of thinking is, let's get rid of the tree just in case.

Today I recieved a letter saying the tree will be chopped down this thursday, 12th August, so the issue is now pretty urgent. I have lodged opposition in writing to the body corporate and hope they will listen to me, consider all the facts, especially the presence of the birds, and leave the tree as it is. I hope that some of the experts on here can arm me with some facts to help me argue my case.

I have done some reading up and as I understand it, subsidence due to trees is mainly down to the type of soil the foundation slab is on and how much clay content is in it. So question number one - what type of soil am I likely to be on in Highgate Hill in Brisbane and how can I test it? Also, how could i find out how thick the slab is and therefore the degree of risk to the building. I figure at some point I will need to enlist the help of an expert, but i don't really know what type (arborist or structural engineer?) or where to get hold of one. I'm hoping to get in contact with somebody on the forum who is local will be able to offer me some advice.

I'm sorry I don't have any pictures at the moment, It's dark outside so i'll post some tomorrow after I've had chance to take some pics in the daylight. I'm sure I haven't given you guys any where near enough information on which to advise me, so let me know what I have missed out and I'll try and fill in the blanks.

Thanks in advance,

Ben and the frogmouths

Eric Frei

1. Geotech soil samples required with moisture content from 2 places around building
2. concrete slabs are just on top of soil in most cases, all that is required to lift them is pressure by the roots, they only have to lift the weight of the slab + friction. If there was no reo between slabs even easier for the tree roots to lift
3. Root barrier can be installed between tree and building to prevent further problem
4. Roosting is not nesting, look for the nest, they tend to use the same one each year, it's a scruffy nest usually in forks unlike an organised swallow nest etc

Hope that bit of info helps but I will say that engineers always condemn trees, and about anything else that will interfere with their constructions.

__________________

Brent Ferris

I agree with Ekka, about the roots. Root pruning and a root barrier will prevent damage to the foundation, and it not the foundation that is usually at risk, but the weepers. And changing the grade so water drains away from the building is the best way (long term) to prevent roots growing towards a building.

But engineers almost always condemn a tree. What they don't understand, they want to get rid of -- then they are sure of where they stand.