Failed Poinciana Redland Shire Brisbane

Ekka · 10th April 2008, 04:29 AM

Vehicle wrecked as tree collapses - Local - General - Bayside Bulletin / The Redland Times

Quote:

10 April 2008 - 2:44PM
Vehicle wrecked as tree collapses

Suraya Saleh

A FOUR-wheel-drive was partially crushed this week when a tree fell down in central Cleveland.

The poinciana tree, one of several lining Middle Street, collapsed unexpectedly just before 9am on Wednesday.

The tree’s root system was pulled out of the garden bed as its branches crashed on to the back driver’s side of a Kia Sportage owned by Ormiston’s Jody Ashton.

“I heard this great big whooshing noise and I looked outside and saw the tree had fallen down,” said Ms Ashton, an employee at nearby Walters and Rose Realty.

She was horrified to see the damage to her car, which she had bought only a year ago.

“I was in shock. There was no wind or anything,” the 29-year-old said.

“It was lucky no one else was hurt. There are seats out there.”

Redland City Council workers arrived within half an hour to clear the debris, but Ms Ashton said the council was less responsive to her needs.

She approached the council about organising a vehicle to loan while her car was getting fixed, but was rebuffed.

“They said they didn’t do that, but in the mean time I’m left without a car and I don’t know how I’ll get to work,” she said.

“It seems it’s tough luck for me.”

A council spokeswoman yesterday said tests were being carried out to determine the reason behind the tree collapse.

Fungus has caused a number of trees to crash down in the Redlands over the past few years, including a fig along North Street near the Grand View Hotel and another fig near the Courthouse Restaurant.

TreeDimensional · 10th April 2008, 07:54 AM

This may be a case of the trees getting even with people and their vehicles. Why on earth would someone that lives in a large metropolitan area NEED a 4X4. Perhaps the tree was previously butchered to accommodate someones solar panels.

On a more serious note, it is more than likely that the tree was caught in the political mumbo-jumbo, where people want great trees, great roads, high water pressure in their homes, and all the while the local government is running low on revenue, and at the risk of NOT getting re-elected, will not raise taxes to pay for all the things their ratepayers want.

It really doesn't surprise me that the thing that is MOST often overlooked is the trees. They seem to stand there fore ever, and rarely fall over by themselves. If one is blown apart in a severe weather event, we blame the storm, MY GOODNESS, trees don't fail because of what we don't do for them. NOT!!!!

Ekka · 10th April 2008, 08:37 PM

I'm in the area tomorrow, will sniff around and see what I find.

Ekka · 11th April 2008, 11:40 PM

The typical set up along the street.

These two pictures are looking around the base of the first poinciana I came across.

Here's the base of the second tree as I went along.

And here's the site of the tree that fell. It fell diagonally to the left where the Commodore is parked. The soil was ... like potting mix, few small broken roots but one maybe 25mm dia that was decayed. This was fruiting body city, inside the hedge and even around the tiny yellow duranta. Cop the volume and size of them. Also looks like some conduit, there was a light etc.

Sean Freeman · 11th April 2008, 11:50 PM

Same ole, same ole...hey Eric......major root trauma, dysfunction, infection court extending decay and dysfuction...failure at the base...

Intervene anywhere along that time line of events and potentially avoid the loss of the tree and the damage it caused.

Ekka · 12th April 2008, 12:15 AM

Yep,

You know, I guess those "islands" for the trees to grow in are on top of some inhospitable compacted sub base.

The soil in the islands dries out quick and has "no body" or volume, like a mixture of sand and bark fines.

The roots would have to try to hang onto the sub base coz you aint getting much anchorage out of that planter.

Of course being elevated means 2 things.

1/ You dry out quicker or
2/ Your deeper roots drown in a well of water.

Either way there would be little soil cohesion so lots more emphasis on strong roots.

The trees are small though, fairly well protected from weather and the tree that fell .... it was not a windy day.

What do you think is under those planters?

Do you think the roots will go under the road and pavers?

I think for the type of hardscaping presented, that the choice of tree was poor.

Poincianas have low canopy and wide spreading, buttress roots and poor compartmentalization.

I'd be looking for a tree that would grown maybe 5m tall and no more than 5m wide, drought and good tolerance of poor soils, drop no big seeds like Leopard trees do.

Now lets see, some I can think of are Buckinghamia, Waterhousia, pink trumpet tree ... and I'm sure that there's heaps more.

Sean Freeman · 12th April 2008, 12:28 AM

Yes I'd agree they have made a strange choice there...but the choice was made some time back...little thought of future road developments increases in population etc...

Delonix tend to reflect a particular landscaping era in Australian towns, and have a good deal of appeal because of that (for me anyway) I do feel the council could have spent a little money on PHC and perhaps avoided some of the problems these tree now face..Its similar to the New Farm Park situation for me, just how much does a root crown inspection cost? Its really not that much. The inconvenience to the public?? Minimal. We can't turn back the clock and undo root damage done years back but we can accurately assess what the situation is....without the expense of ground penetrating radar or picus...Honestly sometimes you feel like the low tech simple approach gets knocked back partly because it is just that low tech simple and cheap!!!

Urban tree management isn't hard, it just takes commitment passion and a vision...the people who planted the Jacs at New Farm had it, as did the town elders in Grafton....such people do exist in our communities today.

treeseer · 12th April 2008, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Freeman

.Honestly sometimes you feel like the low tech simple approach gets knocked back partly because it is just that low tech simple and cheap!!!

Very true; so what to do? There must be a way of marketing basic rcx that will approach the appeal of whizbang gizmoes that may or may not furnish compelling data.

ID those conks yet? Looks like lacquer polypore, ganoderma.

that incident get written up in the paper?

Judging by the ads, I thought 4x4's were tough.

Sean Freeman · 12th April 2008, 05:44 AM

Ganoderma would be my pick either australe or cupreum, but for me only really indicators of the damage and dysfunction rather than some agressive wood digesting parasite.

I do think that how we can present the results from a comprehesive program of rcx would be an attractive tool to tree owners like councils.....in other words the rcx is the means to definatively (within practical limits) assess the physical status of teh structural roots, combined with comprehensive soil tests (including the soil food web) providing the base line data from which to generate long term management options.

10th April 2008, 07:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
TreeDimensional Banned Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 385	Re: Failed Poinciana Redland Shire Brisbane This may be a case of the trees getting even with people and their vehicles. Why on earth would someone that lives in a large metropolitan area NEED a 4X4. Perhaps the tree was previously butchered to accommodate someones solar panels. On a more serious note, it is more than likely that the tree was caught in the political mumbo-jumbo, where people want great trees, great roads, high water pressure in their homes, and all the while the local government is running low on revenue, and at the risk of NOT getting re-elected, will not raise taxes to pay for all the things their ratepayers want. It really doesn't surprise me that the thing that is MOST often overlooked is the trees. They seem to stand there fore ever, and rarely fall over by themselves. If one is blown apart in a severe weather event, we blame the storm, MY GOODNESS, trees don't fail because of what we don't do for them. NOT!!!!

10th April 2008, 08:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,846	Re: Failed Poinciana Redland Shire Brisbane I'm in the area tomorrow, will sniff around and see what I find. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

11th April 2008, 11:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,643	Re: Failed Poinciana Redland Shire Brisbane Same ole, same ole...hey Eric......major root trauma, dysfunction, infection court extending decay and dysfuction...failure at the base... Intervene anywhere along that time line of events and potentially avoid the loss of the tree and the damage it caused. __________________ Sean Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper, That we may record our emptiness. - Kahlil Gibran

12th April 2008, 12:15 AM	#6 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,846	Re: Failed Poinciana Redland Shire Brisbane Yep, You know, I guess those "islands" for the trees to grow in are on top of some inhospitable compacted sub base. The soil in the islands dries out quick and has "no body" or volume, like a mixture of sand and bark fines. The roots would have to try to hang onto the sub base coz you aint getting much anchorage out of that planter. Of course being elevated means 2 things. 1/ You dry out quicker or 2/ Your deeper roots drown in a well of water. Either way there would be little soil cohesion so lots more emphasis on strong roots. The trees are small though, fairly well protected from weather and the tree that fell .... it was not a windy day. What do you think is under those planters? Do you think the roots will go under the road and pavers? I think for the type of hardscaping presented, that the choice of tree was poor. Poincianas have low canopy and wide spreading, buttress roots and poor compartmentalization. I'd be looking for a tree that would grown maybe 5m tall and no more than 5m wide, drought and good tolerance of poor soils, drop no big seeds like Leopard trees do. Now lets see, some I can think of are Buckinghamia, Waterhousia, pink trumpet tree ... and I'm sure that there's heaps more. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

12th April 2008, 12:28 AM	#7 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,643	Re: Failed Poinciana Redland Shire Brisbane Yes I'd agree they have made a strange choice there...but the choice was made some time back...little thought of future road developments increases in population etc... Delonix tend to reflect a particular landscaping era in Australian towns, and have a good deal of appeal because of that (for me anyway) I do feel the council could have spent a little money on PHC and perhaps avoided some of the problems these tree now face..Its similar to the New Farm Park situation for me, just how much does a root crown inspection cost? Its really not that much. The inconvenience to the public?? Minimal. We can't turn back the clock and undo root damage done years back but we can accurately assess what the situation is....without the expense of ground penetrating radar or picus...Honestly sometimes you feel like the low tech simple approach gets knocked back partly because it is just that low tech simple and cheap!!! Urban tree management isn't hard, it just takes commitment passion and a vision...the people who planted the Jacs at New Farm had it, as did the town elders in Grafton....such people do exist in our communities today. __________________ Sean Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper, That we may record our emptiness. - Kahlil Gibran

12th April 2008, 05:44 AM	#9 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,643	Re: Failed Poinciana Redland Shire Brisbane Ganoderma would be my pick either australe or cupreum, but for me only really indicators of the damage and dysfunction rather than some agressive wood digesting parasite. I do think that how we can present the results from a comprehesive program of rcx would be an attractive tool to tree owners like councils.....in other words the rcx is the means to definatively (within practical limits) assess the physical status of teh structural roots, combined with comprehensive soil tests (including the soil food web) providing the base line data from which to generate long term management options. __________________ Sean Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper, That we may record our emptiness. - Kahlil Gibran Last edited by Sean Freeman : 12th April 2008 at 05:48 AM. Reason: adding more info

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