Lies|QAA|Queensland Arboricultural Association

Eric Frei

Time for the truth to be out there rather than the lies and whispers.

Sir Mark Hartley email dated October 12 2009 circulated to a number of NAAA members had this sentence.

That same day Sir Mark and I had a chat over the phone when he called me. The fact is I moved to Queensland in 1990 and commenced tree work in 1998. I never owned a chainsaw until 1998 and never ever topped any trees in SA. When I asked for the source of the information I was asking for names, I want names of people who start such rumours but all Mark gave me was "it came from the QAA".

Mark also made reference to another rumour that I was expelled from the QAA which I set him straight on.

My email response to Mark Hartley on October 12 had this response, I also CC'd it to NAAA.


Today I have in my possession a copy of a letter by Mr Adam Tom (reknown QAA member)where he says I was expelled from the QAA after customer complaints.

Let it be known to all that this is a blatant lie.

Imagine writing such tripe to LGA's, I have engaged a lawyer as I have had enough of the bullying and lies that dominate the industry here. We are looking at slander and defamation with solid proof. If I was expelled then tell me, where's the notice, why did I get a renewal notice? All news to me conveniently fabricated for a purpose/motive (we'll discuss this later).

Here are the circumstances and what happened. In the run up for Arborcamp 2005 I elected myself to help and meetings were at a pub in Caboolture, quite a drive from Springwood. It wasn't easy for me to make those meetings at the 6pm scheduled time. The last meeting I asked many questions about QAA's financial position and what their intentions were with funds. We also discussed some of the videos I was making at the time. We spoke about regulations etc and the outcome was basically that their solution was to have as many industry people join the QAA as possible and that they abide by the Code of Ethics .... which didn't gel with me. I left that meeting disinterested and mentioned my disapproval of the direction.

Shortly after that meeting I sent Arda an email and resigned myself from the Arborcamp volunteer group.

Not long after that Simon Maloney rang me about Arborcamp unaware that I quit the group, and that was about it.

My renewal for the following year was sent out, I never renewed.

Since then I have heard and read absolute lies like those mentioned above. I have heard that there was numerous complaints from customers about me but never ever once in the 5 years of membership from @2000 to 2005 was it brought up (if they were valid).

I have officially myself complained in writing 3 times to the QAA about relevant industry things (one of which resulted in changes within QAA and Qbuild Qld) to never get a response.

It was perhaps @2000 I attended a pruning workshop run by QAA out Petrie way where one of the guys was suggesting cutting off both sides of a codominant as a viable reduction pruning practice, he literally pointed at a gum tree and said you could do it to that one there as it has a condominant stem higher up and prune it there. I wrote a lengthy complaint to QAA and never ever heard a thing, no doubt labelled a trouble maker there-after. I showed that letter in detail to Brett Hamlin who used to contract for me and he too agreed it was inappropriate practice and not on to suggest that. I also complained that the session started 2 hours late, we didn't get a copy of AS4373 as told, didn't get certificates of attendance or an agenda. Coming from a corporate background I knew I was amongst amateurs in this regard of running training.

I know in the past where ignorant sales leads had standing arguments with me about topping trees and I walked off refusing to quote it, they said in the heat of the moment they'll be "dobbing me in" but I didn't care as I would expect that if a complaint was lodged there would be a due process of which hearing both sides of the story and responding like professionals to the customer would be appropriate .... but I must have been dreaming.

What I see is this type of pruning performed by a QAA member and sponsor just last year.


Why would they do this you ask?

Perhaps control or losing control.

Adam Tom also writes that I dont meet Brisbane City Council's criteria as a consultant, that he cant recall me attending conferences and workshops.

Page 18 of the current PDF at BCC's website states this:

Mine is one of the very few websites that lists my qualifications and you can clearly see I fulfil the criteria.

Lets talk about the control thing. Why would some-one write that they cant remember me attending workshops etc?

Like is this one man supposed to remember everybody's personal attendance at everything they do? I have been busy here for 2 years in public view but that means nothing too I suppose. However if you look back at my qualifications you'll see I did attend stuff, and I did attend Arborcamp this year where Adam avoided me like the plague. I also attended the Vermeer workshop but maybe he didn't so doesn't know I was there.

Some of the things I hear go like this, anonymous phone call but likely to be a reknown trouble maker initials SR

"your QAA public enemy #1 and we're gonna get ya".

"your treeworld site is stuffing up there membership"

Did you know out there that the QAA was formed predominantly by Brisbane City Council (BCC) staff and some of their contractor arborists. That bond still remains and that's why BCC bends easily to QAA. Too bad for members in other council districts eh.

Adam's writes also that BCC want 5 years post qualification experience.

But as shown earlier that is not to be found on BCC's website nor in the many NALL's I read on a regular basis. Imagine that if you fork out for your training/assessment here you have a blanket rule trying to get pushed through telling you to piss off for 5 years. Are you still interested in getting your Level 5? Why are they doing this you ask? Well if it was on a case by case basis that certain reports or writers didn't come up to speed then like bad drivers shouldn't they be dealt with individually? Of course they should, council just flicks the report back asking more questions etc. But perhaps it's a matter of Cronyism and protecting their own asses.

When I got my Level 3 and wrote reports I was told "you aint a level 5 stop writing them" by certain "other people" but not ever any council. I then got a Level 5 in Hort. I was then told by "other people" that it was hort not arb so I got my Level 5 Arb. Now they say bugger off for 5 more years.... are you people reading this?

I have written previously about the threat of organisations controlling training, careers, jobs etc. I am a strong believer that everybody is entitled to education regardless of their affiliations and that no organisation should intervene in the market place. What you are witnessing here is perhaps an organisation that in part is making it's own rules up as it goes along stone walling people like you and me.

One thing developers look for is people who have backbone and don't runaway from "names". When I was asked why arborists drop clients when they have to challenge another arborist the answer was easy, to protect their own career as the industry will (from my experience) knife you in the back. As standards roll out for trees why is it that certain individuals write specification that extend beyond the standard then personally denigrate the authors of the alternate options which in some cases are directly out of the standard? I warned the developer that it's the typical tactic to discredit the author and I know that from running this place. This time it has gone too far.

You have seen it yourself from Sir Mark Hartley of NAAA to Adam Tom of QAA.

I encourage you all to read the PDF loaded into the first post of this thread.

Ignorance is Contagious| Critical Thinking| Mob mentalities

I take this piece from that PDF for you to digest.

I have added a visible poll (up the top) for members to vote about my vocation as a consulting arborist. To ensure voting is legit your name is visible, and do consider the context of voting is not about personalities but abilities/knowledge/skills/experience to do the job.

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Drouin Tree Service

These guys need one big bed they all lie that much!

Love how they say they expelled you,Talk about pumping up there own tyres.

The training side doesn't shock me either does the knife in the back.

Who would really want to be in the QAA???Only those who need to, be in an "association"Love to see there member list be full of fly by night carachters ledgends in there own mind.

Of course this is only my opinion

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Drouin Tree Services | Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland | Landclearing Melbourne

Eric Frei

Copy of online email to BCC about this, it is news that affects all arborists working their council district. I have enough evidence that shows how certain people taint reality to suit there own needs, but if endorsed by govt we face something worse ....

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Garry Brockley

the only reason this site is stuffing up their membership is because people can see for themselves how these people work behind the scenes, it's disgusting to me that a so called governing body that is in direct contact with a council can act like this and not be under investigation, but saying that maybe this will put the wind up them and make this farce for a governing body close or change forever.

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pomie

did you not do that a to z tree work shop that was precented buy jerermy barrell

Eric Frei

Yes I did.

Here's a copy of the email I just sent Lord Mayor Campbell Newman.

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Jeff Darby

What a shame this sort of thing goes on in our industry, bullying and undermining a competant Arborist all because he chooses to stand independant from organisations and associations, shame to all involved and I for one will not have anything to do with the likes !

I have been involved with Treeworld since its begining, in the begining I was a member reading posts and having an input to threads I have since been involved behind the scenes editing post, resizing pictures and keeping this site free from trouble makers who come here only disrupt quality threads and hopefully damage the reputation of TreeWorld.

The working videos of Ekka, has inspired litterally hundreds if not thousands of treeloppers to seek out professional training and to be the best they can in their choosen field for this I take my hat of to this man.. I am one of this group of people.

The information contained on Treeworlds computer files are second to none in information and are backed by documentation, not heresay, Ekka is in the forefront of this effort to not to attack the man personally but to put your facts on the table but sadly not many can do this as all they want to do is dis credit a competant arborist with lies and induendo.

I am a level 3 arborist presently studying level four which will be completed in two weeks time, during the course of studying level three you are introduced to report writing, whilst level four has much more hands on training in correct report writing to industry standards part of this is discussing reports of other arbs, treeloppers and arborist who hold level five qualifications, for training, as such i can honestly say Eric's report writing skills conforms to and if not better to some of the best arborist in Australia as I have had the privilege of reading their reports and have also been trusted in reading Eric's reports aswell.

So it is my opinion that Eric Frei is indeed a competant consulting Arborist promoting better tree care and professional ethics. Unlike some who sit on their laurels and throw stones at this man.

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Member: Australian Tree Association

Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard !

Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others

© Jeffrey J Darby 2011

Bruce Hopf

Ekka as far as I'm concerned is one outstanding person, and a gentleman in his field of expertise. He has given me so much advice on doing a job that I had problems trying to figure out, with trees that were, and are going to be difficult to fell in our bush, or property of our family farm.
These trees were, and are learners, going towards hydro lines, and buildings, and hydro lines, along the edge of the bush on our land, and he has advised me on how to do the job, by videos that he made over the years, and if not by video, through great detail with hand drawn maps of the situation, or scenario, which helped me a great deal, and I followed his directions, and everything went without a hitch, and if it wouldn't been for him, and a few other members of the web site Tree World, I'm quite certain that I would have had some troubles.
Ekka has always been one of the first, to respond to a question in regards to trees, in just about every aspect. Hew also has helped out a lot of his members as well, and advised them where they were having troubles, and he was right on with them too.
He has a tremendous amount of experience in his field. He knows what he is talking about. He tries his best to point out where some others went wrong, and explained to the individual, how it could have been done, to make the job go a lot better.
Sure some of those people took that as an offence, when he pointed something out. A lot of people just don't want to take the time to listen, because they take that is criticism, and get upset.
He also has taken a lot of time, to show where other workers have done a job, that isn't up to code, and a lot of people have seen the mistakes, and he has instructed how the job should have been done, to be in with regulation.
He also had taken a lot of time, to help show people, especially the elderly, how to look for a tree lopper, that is good, and not there to rip them off, and where tree loppers have ripped people off, and charged more than double what the cost of the job should have been.
A lot of people are upset with what he has done, and these people like to do the most yelling, weather they are right or wrong, it doesn't matter to some. These people condone a lot of things too, weather it is right or wrong, because they don't want to rock the boat.
With Ekka, if it is right, he will comment on it, and if it is wrong, he will not condone it, and that is where a lot of people get upset with him, because he will rock the boat.
Bruce Hopf.

__________________
McCulloch chain saws
1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's,
2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener,
1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver
2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10
Stihl chain saws
2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084,
Strunk chain saws
1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special
Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).

stirmantrees

I for one have been thoroughly impressed by Eric's knowledge and ability to communicate facts and concepts to those of us not as highly educated. I have visited many forums relating to the arboricultural field and this is the one that has made me feel inspired and hungry for more. He is well versed in some of the more complex aspects of arboriculture which has been an elightening and edifying experience for me. His competency to provide rock solid, un biased counsel in the arboriculure field is, in my view, undeniable.
I fully support Mr. Frei's endeavors in this field.

Jonathan Stirman, Sr.
Certified Arborist
Fl-5795A

dov

It's interesting how the legends-in-their-own-lunchbox's out there seem to love running organisations. Now don't get me wrong. There are many worthwhile organisations in this world, but small organisations often tend to attract small people into leadership and we sometimes have to put up with them getting in the way of what other more worthily-minded people are trying to do.

Well, that aside. Ekka, who really cares about the QAA? I'm pretty certain that you'd get a good amount of recommendations from previous customers and enough new work to boot. You left your role with the QAA and found your calling in this website. That which you could not find in the QAA you've created here in a way that affects professionals and others around the globe. A community of industry people supporting each other.

Personally I'm starting my Cert II Arb next year (cert III to follow and possibly Dip. to follow) because of the influence of these forums. I just received from WesSpurs a stack of new climbing gear that I wouldn't have been able to afford from any Australian store and I got the link from these forums. I've learned a stack from reading the discussions here and reading references linked to from this site. What's the QAA do? Well, umm, it collects fees I guess. Runs a few events. Lets a few stuffed shirts strut around. I'd rather have the website frankly.

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Eric Frei

When you have an industry organisation telling lies about former members that's pretty serious, especially if those lies are used as political clout.

Sir Mark Hartley (of NAAA) happened to acquire a letter I wrote to guy who didn't show up for a tree inspection. Basically I was asked to assess the back neighbours tree at a distance but not to go on their property. Anyway I wasn't sure what was going on, never saw any council letter like I usually do for a Tree Report. So I wrote a letter in similar fashion to my reports what I saw, made some suggestions which included him talking to his neighbour and perhaps council about his options. Now this letter was not titled "Tree Report" and did not have my standard disclaimer/copyright like my official tree reports as I was not making recommendations but offering guidance as to what the customer could do, however Mark Hartley acquired that letter and used it in his both his TAFE NSW classes and email rallies to denigrate me.

Upon that phone call from him 12 October 2009 I cleared the matter up, now he describes it as field notes.

Not all communication has to be a $500+ report, I have had councils ask me to just flick them an email about what's going on etc.

Most reports you write for BCC have a specific scope, BCC generally ask for what they want. Your report addresses those points. It can get more meaty where trees have issues and you need to make recommendations .... perhaps that's where some people are falling down or they provide insufficient information. To have a person lobbying that a blanket change be made is absurd. I wonder how many of QAA's own members with a Level5 have less than 5 years post graduate time? I wonder if they'd be happy knowing they should bugger off for 5 years?

I wonder if they'd quit their membership knowing the very place they paid their dues to screwed their career over?

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Drouin Tree Service

The people who attack you Eric would have very thin credentials(that there mates would have given them) thats why they are trying in vain to get rid of you.

I challenge these"men"to prove me wrong.

The BCC need to know the truth all there trying to do is a hard job,Its not easy running councils IMO

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Drouin Tree Services | Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland | Landclearing Melbourne

Eric Frei

Council Arboriculture Victoria (CAV) Inc have produced (Dec 2008) a guideline for development reporting. I have loaded the PDF here for continuity and also provided a link to the PDF on their site.

Unlike what has been said here in Queensland I quote from CAV's PDF:-

Now bear in mind that this draft PDF was before AS4970-2009 Protecting Trees on Development Sites was around.

Do note that CAV suggest only Level 4.

Do note that CAV suggest 3 or more years experience of tree assessment and report writing.

The argument is .... is that necessary if you assess trees and the report conforms to what they require? They are asking for feedback so I urge you Victorians to give them some. I find it an oxymoron to get 3 years report writing experience to write a report.

I notice on CAV's website that they have an article about Mattheck's t/r 1/3 rule. I also note that they have mention about getting the article written by a German scientist. Likely it's Brudi, Wessolly or Gruber.



Anyway, just showing what we have here at Treeworld regarding these things:-

Here's what they perhaps were looking for posted 2007, it has links to their website with loads of great PDF's. It is a mentioned source of information in Jerry Bonds article too.
How hollow - pull test - stability tests - Wessolly - Brudi - Sterken - Coder

However we also were privaledged to have a poster throw a cat amongst the pigeons with this thread.
Results of tree-pulling (SIM) a possible fraud?

And certainly Mattheck was questioned with some more information here.
How many people realise Claus Mattheck has been proven wrong about root excavation.

What I am trying to make rather obvious here is that to have a place that's "onto it" and accessible to all for free is crucial for the involvement of all. Also you can see many works did not originate from an organisation but from "scientists" and the information was rebadged and sent through an organisations channels.

Another important thing to consider is the ability to get your information posted. Can you just have your findings posted on an organisations website like Wolfgang did? What if you have a counter argument but the powers that be would rather stone wall you?

You can see first hand the implications and inconsistencies.

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Attached Files

ARBORICULTURAL REPORTING - GUIDELINES.pdf (68.1 KB, 231 views)

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dov

Haha. I seriously cannot fathom the lack of logical reasoning that some people seem to live with. Didn't anyone proof-read this document before it went out?

Hmmm. Should only be allowed to write a report if I've been writing already for 3 years? They don't want anyone new taking away their report writing jobs? Sounds like a catch 22 to me... Trying to turn it into a restricted industry with jobs only for the boys in the club.

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Jeff Darby

It takes time and dedication to become a level 5 Arborist, NO ONE GIVES IT TO YOU You have to study at night or give up valuable working time to get to this level of training.

The thought of having to acquire five years post report writing experience out in the wilderness is absurd, you have already proven yourself before your crudentialed peers whilst undertaking your training.

The very thought of this being made a requirement is repugnant to anyone aspiring to become a consulting arborist. This is definately an attempt to keep the inner cirlce working and a blatent grab for control of our industry at this level of work.

I for one shout this out loud THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND THOSE WHO INTEND TO PUSH THIS ON ARBORISTS SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

It has jobs for the boys and boys club written all over it.

JayD

__________________

Member: Australian Tree Association

Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard !

Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others

© Jeffrey J Darby 2011

Garry Brockley

What annoys me about this kind of thing is the fact that even though i have worked for councils in the uk for the past 5 years, i have done tree assesments and had them checked by council and independent Arbs, when i go for my level 5 i will have to wait for five years post pass, why is that?
I find it disgusting that an organisation that is suppose to help this industry, is holding back the very people that are doing the job day in, day out, just so that the people at the top of the afformentioned organisation can feather their own nest by constantly moving the goal posts sothat they are the only people that are able to do the work for councils.
I had a 16 meter tree this week that had been assessed by the logan council tree person they stated that the tree will be kept, i saw the tree and the work done around it, the roots had been severed 13" from the tree i told them the tree was unstable and needed to go asap they ignored me!(not a level 5 i guess with five years exp) well the tree turned yellow on weds and the tree started moving thursday so we went back and removed it as the council tree assessor changed their mind on friday.
So how many other things are this organisation going to change for their own benefit and leave every other qualified person and company playing catch up.
If the council opened their minds they could save so much money by putting out tenders to all qualified insured companies.
the feeling from me is the QAA and council are totally in bed with each other and there must be an investigation to sort this fiasco out.
just my tuppence worth.

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Eric Frei

Oh, Logan Council eh.

Logan City Council please explain! I wonder if there were casualties?

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Eric Frei

At 3.01pm yesterday I returned Bill Manning's call from Brisbane City Council.

He was responding to the email I sent to the Lord Mayor.

Bill is the Principal Officer Natural Environment.

The call duration was 15.08 minutes.

Bill said I should get a response in writing also but we discussed things in depth.

He confirmed under Brisbane's NALL I was eligible to write reports, he also confirmed he saw the recent report I wrote.

He also mentioned that people can write whatever they like and send it to council and there's little control over that. I have sent him a copy of Adam Tom's document and have asked him to look into it.

Basically here's an extract from another of Adam Tom's document:-

You can clearly see for yourself that Adam is mandating in his specifications that you must for a consulting arborist ...

1/ Be AQF 5
2/ Have 5 years post qualification experience
3/ Be ISA Cert Arb

And for a Supervising arborist ....

1/ AQF 4 (being phased out)
2/ 4 years post qualification experience

These specifications are appearing as part of DA approvals, like some law.

I doubt the legality of this process, it certainly is an issue for restriction of trade and I will be taking this matter as far as I can, perhaps ACCC or similar, however councils need to be aware of the little niche being created by these types of specifications.

Also, his specifications mandate requirements well past AS4970-2009. One for instance is compulsory cementing in of TPZ fence posts to a depth of 400mm.

For developers, if you are under one of Adam Tom's Tree Preservation and Protection Specifications documents I'm telling you right now that it's likely you are required to do things according to the opinion of 1 man.

You will see things like 6000psi air spade soil decompaction where there has been no compaction tests, soil test, core samples. We have a enough information here to show what air spade really does, SFA!

You will see things like 210psi soil injections via grow gun where (like above) no soil test have been done, no microbial or fungal count. Some microbial products labels state not to pressurize above 60 psi as damage to the living microbes may occur. In one test I know of they did a microscope comparison between no pressure and 90 psi .... a 50% death rate occured, here he's suggesting 210 psi into the ground.

You likely will have to cement in your TPZ fence with hand dig holes, with pole spacings at 3m over a large site that's a lot of poles, not to mention cost as you don't cement in posts then hand them back to fence hire companies, then you'll have to dispose of steel poles with lumps of concrete on them.

Developers - Builders, look over the conditions and and challenge them, or be wise and engage your own consultant prior to do the Tree specifications.

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Eric Frei

I just emailed QAA, here is a copy of the email.

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MTS247

"The consultant will also hold an International Society of
Arboriculture (ISA) certification, i.e. ISA Certified Arborist"

Why? because the consultant has forgoten what they learnt 5 years ago and needs to brush up

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"Just cause i don't use it, don't make it wrong!"

Garry Brockley

Why is it that these people feel that just because a company/ person is a member of an association they are automatically an ideal choice?
it's because the governments have almost stopped rogue builders, plumbers, sparkies ect and the associations involved in this are well run, organised and have inspectors to carry out checks at certain times when things are being built/ fixed they also have the respect of the companies and customers covered by them, they are backed to the hilt by government and have the ability to cause real problems for any company/ person that doesn't do things to the correct specification. this type of thing needs to happen to this industry so people like adam tom cant have the power over council decisions.
just my 0.02 cents

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Bruce Hopf

If a person has to do a brush up after 5 years, wouldn't they have to pay more money, to get recertified? Seems like a HUGE SCAM to me, if that is the case. Bruce.

__________________
McCulloch chain saws
1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's,
2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener,
1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver
2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10
Stihl chain saws
2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084,
Strunk chain saws
1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special
Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).

stjawa

Many of my arborist mates have told me over the years about there disillusion with certain Arborist Associations.When I joined Treeworld I could see what they mean.
Please tell me if I have got this wrong.
At the moment there are approx 13 arborist/tree contractors associations in Australia.

They have only formally all met a couple of times to try and work things out.

Most of them would have less than 50 members.A few would probably have trouble getting a quorum at there meetings.

Certain national associations only have members in New South Wales only give advice on NSW matters and only advise that states work cover.

We have work cover bodies in each state all with different tree amenity guide lines/recommendations.

A large proportion of associationd are run by volunteers without government funding.

The elected/self elected commitee members are often in direct competition with other members or companies they are trying to force rules on.

From someone looking in at the state of play it dosn't take much to read between the lines.Conflict of interest,cronyism, self interest and as I have read in this thread "restraint of trade".This is the most alarming and as Ekka suggested it needs to be fought vigorously!!!

Associations are formed by like minded people with great intentions but in this day and age without serious money,so you can have paid full time staff, they just tread water.It is all well and good having sponsors but sponsors come and go.You need strong federal/state goverment funding year in year out.The goverment though only like to deal with one national body with state assocciates who represents all people in an industry in all states.

I might be stating the obvious here ,isnt it time the industry gets its act together.People are still dying in this industry every year.None of the national associations are representing the tree industry as a whole and only represent a small minority.Information and clarity on safety in the industry is hard to source and when found is often designed for other industries.

Has anything happened in the last few years that might be pointing us in the right direction?

Eric Frei

Spoke with Peter Maslen of Redland Shire Council today at 12.10pm for duration of 16.54mins

Peter confirmed that there is no qualification standard mandated for consulting or project arborists by the council.

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Eric Frei

Bill responded today and informed me that the document was written on behalf of a client not BCC and as such the author could write whatever they wanted, if the client didn't like it they could dismiss it or the author and get another version.

When DA's require Tree Preservation and Protection criteria you better be careful who is writing it then, you could end up with a lot more to do at a lot more cost that what is really necessary .... you could also end up with large BONDS ($'s) on trees if damage or death occurs .... that is all put in there by the consultant.

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Bruce Hopf

By the looks of things, the Author of the report, didn't have all his I's dotted, or his T's crossed. Another thing, he didn't care what was written, and sad thing, his Signature was signed underneath, of his remarks, which put himself in a whole lot of hot water. Bruce.

__________________
McCulloch chain saws
1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's,
2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener,
1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver
2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10
Stihl chain saws
2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084,
Strunk chain saws
1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special
Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).

Eric Frei

If you have something like this written into your Tree Document you might want to have it changed or contest it.

Why?

Because it's going to take a lot longer and cost a lot more to do things with smaller machines or by hand.

The 2 tonne thing is a load of BS.

An average adult standing exerts around 6 to 8psi pressure, however the source of that information doesn't say if that's standing both feet down or one foot down. Now listen, a Kanga/Dingo wheeled miniloader exerts up to 12psi but I can say from experience it could double when you "crack a mono onto 2 wheels". Now a 4.5Tonne PT100 (positrack bobcat style machine) only exerts 3.5PSI because it has nice wide and long tracks. This is very important because a positrack with attachments can pull out fence posts, shift large quanities of mulch, lift much larger logs etc.

Now lets go even further into this 2 tonne restriction.

Here's the site you convert kg/cm2 to psi

Here is a link (but I also attached for continuity) to Komatsu excavators weight and ground pressure. Check out page 4.

Now page 4 of that PDF is the data, what you'll see is different "shoe" widths, basically with excavators the "operating weight" is the weight of the machine, hence a 13 Tonne excavator usually weighs around 13 tonnes.

Now note some of the ground pressures ....

0,41 kg/cm² is actually only 5.81 psi, less than a miniloader and person, and that was for a 13 Tonne machine with 500mm wide tracks (narrowest track option).

If you went for the widest track option it would drop to 4.55 psi (700mm wide track), now that isn't a lot of difference and is well below people walking about. So we could have a 13T machine in there doing less compaction than a miniloader.

Lets get a real baddie eh, how about the PC350LC-8 weighing in at 41 Tonne on the narrowest tracks has 0,67 kg/cm² ground pressure. That is only 9.5 psi which is just above a person walking about and below a wheeled miniloader.

So what is relevent here is ground pressure not machine weight, a specification could say, "Mulch shall be spread by hand, or by machinery with less than 12 psi ground pressure".

Attached Files

komatsu excavators.pdf (770.8 KB, 67 views)

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Bruce Hopf

I'm behind you 110% Ekka. I'd like to know where some people get their information from. It is obvious that they just fly buy the seat of their pants, or write things on a whim, like this character has done, and when someone like yourself comes along, and says what a Crock, and makes them look dumb.
Another great job done Ekka. Bruce.

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gawd

I need to ask u -what exactly what does the qaa have against u

Eric Frei

I can only speculate and assume it has to do with power and control .... they have neither over me and I am vocal plus run this site.

I will bat it up against anyone who interferes with my right to work, right to an education and right to run my business/earn a living.

Many years ago I spoke of road blocks .... well here they are.

Right now we have a council shoving BS down peoples throats, I dare say that the public are unaware and perhaps same with the Mayor and CEO who will be my next point of contact.

If the QAA were also aware of this situation and sat on their hands or support it then they too are in collusion with something that is detrimental to your livelihood.

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