Interesting story from Yass NSW| historic palms felled

Eric Frei · 6th April 2010, 10:39 PM

Have a read.
Angst over felled palm trees - Local News - News - General - Yass Tribune

Quote:

Angst over felled palm trees
17 Mar, 2010 03:00 AM
The felling of two historic palm trees has sparked debate over Yass Valley Council’s processes for dealing with dead, dangerous or dying trees.

Former owner of the property Mark Wales is devastated by the loss of the palm trees, which he believes were planted in the late 1870s - early 1880s.

“They were fine examples of Canary Island date palms, probably introduced to Yass, along with many other exotic species, during the time when the Johnston's had a vegetable and fruit shop in Yass's main street,” he told the Tribune. “The Johnston's had connections to the Botanic Gardens in Sydney and were major contributors to the early development and shaping of Yass and the local environment,” he said.

"This makes a mockery of the Tree Preservation Order and effectively no trees in Yass are safe. The trees were a significant and iconic part of Yass and they are lost forever." He intends to lodge a written complaint with council and take the matter to the NSW Ombudsman.

***

In February, Anne d’Arx and Michael Bailey, owners of the property, were concerned about the state of the Phoenix canariensis palms, and asked Chris Beck, who has 35 years experience in tree removal, for his expert opinion.

Mr Beck found that the trunk structures at the base of the lower tree canopies had extensive irreversible decay and there was severe deterioration of the root system near the retaining walls.

“Removal is the most efficient and practical option,” the tree removal specialist advised council in a written report.

However, after reviewing Mr Beck’s Dead, Dying and Dangerous Tree Removal Application on February 9, 2010, council staff decided the palms were not to be removed until they had been inspected by council’s heritage advisor, given their potential significance.

According to Paul De Szell, Yass Valley Council’s Director of Planning, council’s Parks and Recreation Manager inspected the palms and agreed that they were suffering serious decay and dry rot under the canopy. Mr Wales disputes this point, and says the recommendation from planning staff was the trees should not be removed. He believes council was in the process of placing the property – including the house and palm trees – on a heritage register.

***

Mr Beck monitored the trees over the next few weeks. The retaining walls developed large cracks and, on Thursday March 4, “at 6.15am the owners phoned me to say the western retaining wall had fallen over”, Mr Beck states in his report to council.

A meeting was arranged for Tuesday March 9 with representatives from council. Mr Beck’s report specifies he told a council representative “if the trees became any more dangerous to surrounding infrastructure that I would remove them immediately”.

Mr Beck outlined the process of measuring the trees movement, saying he ran a line and plumb and bob from the tree to the house to measure movement in the tree closest to the house. Over Thursday afternoon and the rainy Friday on March 5, the bob lowered 70mm. Then overnight it lowered another 110mm. Mr Beck made the decision that the trees were in imminent danger of falling. Given that the trees were growing very close to the eastern side of the house, both lives and the historic home were at risk.

“I’d never put the lives of my clients in danger,” Mr Beck said. “Safety is my number one priority. I knew it may not be a popular decision, but in my position, you have to be prepared to act. I’ve got an obligation to my clients. I had to make the call and I did. I’d do the same thing tomorrow if I had to.”

Mr Beck’s decision is supported by Mr De Szell.

“Given the circumstances, Chris [Beck] was realistically left with no other option than to remove the palms,” Yass Valley Council’s Director of Planning said. “In these circumstances if the palms had not been removed and had fallen on the dwelling or a person both council and Chris Beck are likely to have been found liable.”

Mr Wales maintains Mr Beck should have called a council officer before beginning work on the Saturday morning. He alleges the contractor has exploited a loophole in council’s Tree Preservation Order.

The order requires anyone intending to do anything to a tree that may damage its health or appearance obtain council approval before the tree is changed. However there is an exemption if the tree is dangerous and poses an immediate risk of causing damage to property or endangering human life. That decision can be made by someone with five years or greater experience in tree diagnostics and removal.

Mr Wales is concerned that Mr Beck is not a qualified arborist or tree surgeon.

He accepts Mr Beck has experience in tree removal, but questions his diagnostic and horticultural skills.

Mr Wales acknowledges the Dying or Dead or Dangerous provision for tree removal is valid, but asserts it should only be used in genuine cases where an immediate decision is required - for example during a storm - and should not be allowed to be used to circumvent council processes.

“Further, these decisions should require some degree of independence. In the case of the trees the contractor had a conflict of interest because he had a financial interest in the decision to remove the trees and to destroy any evidence as to the wellbeing of the trees.

“While it is too late for the trees, the community needs to call on council to properly protect our heritage buildings, our landscapes and streetscapes for future generations,” he said.

***

Owners of the historic property, Anne d’Arx and Michael Bailey, also loved the palms.

“They were very majestic and beautiful trees. It was a very difficult decision to make,” said Ms d’Arx. She told the Tribune she and her husband want to restore the early brick cottage, built in the 1860s-1890s, to its original condition.

“I would prefer to keep the heritage of the house safe, and the lives of the people in it, rather than the trees, beautiful though they were,” she said.

There is a postscript to the story, about life and renewal.

A number of seedlings had grown near the old palms. A neighbour has taken one to plant, and several have gone to be planted on a property near Burrinjuck.

The cycle of life continues and Canary Island palms may once more flourish in Yass.

Done it · 6th April 2010, 11:47 PM

Interesting.

This happened here last week. Palm trees `had to go' from park - Local News - News - General - Parramatta Sun

I'm not a date palm fan but it's a shame, another bit of history gone.

Palm trees `had to go' from park
BY ALISON MILLS
31 Mar, 2010 03:00 AM
SOME locals were shocked to see six Canary Island date palms being removed from Parramatta Park's prominent Pitt Street boundary last week.

But Parramatta Park Trust director Chris Levins said the palms, planted in the 1930s, were diseased and needed to be removed to protect a more significant dwarf stone wall and iron palisade fence dating to the 1880s.

``The fence has exceptional significance for its streetscape role of defining the early boundaries of the park and in the fabric of the fence itself,'' Mr Levins said.

``The fence has been assessed as of high significance.''

The Parramatta Park Trust is conserving the wall and fence with $728,000 state government funding.

Mr Levins said the palms needed to be removed as part of this work. He said a report by the Government Architect's Office identified the role of invasive palm tree roots and associated soil fill in damaging the fence to the point of potential collapse.

``The sandstone dwarf wall has been partially lifted and pushed into the street by the roots of the palms and a structural assessment noted the potential for catastrophic collapse,'' Mr Levins said.

He said the diseased state of the trees made it impossible to transplant them.

An arboricultural consultant from the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney concluded that the trees were clearly showing symptoms of Fusarium oxysporum, which wilts palms.

This is a disease of certain species of palms that was first diagnosed in the 1980s when palm trees in Centennial Park began to die. The first of the Pitt Street palms died in 1998.

Mr Levins said a decision would be made soon on an appropriate plant species to replace the palms.

6th April 2010, 11:47 PM	#2
Done it Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Australia. Posts: 780	Re: Interesting story from Yass NSW\| historic palms felled Interesting. This happened here last week. Palm trees `had to go' from park - Local News - News - General - Parramatta Sun I'm not a date palm fan but it's a shame, another bit of history gone. Palm trees `had to go' from park BY ALISON MILLS 31 Mar, 2010 03:00 AM SOME locals were shocked to see six Canary Island date palms being removed from Parramatta Park's prominent Pitt Street boundary last week. But Parramatta Park Trust director Chris Levins said the palms, planted in the 1930s, were diseased and needed to be removed to protect a more significant dwarf stone wall and iron palisade fence dating to the 1880s. ``The fence has exceptional significance for its streetscape role of defining the early boundaries of the park and in the fabric of the fence itself,'' Mr Levins said. ``The fence has been assessed as of high significance.'' The Parramatta Park Trust is conserving the wall and fence with $728,000 state government funding. Mr Levins said the palms needed to be removed as part of this work. He said a report by the Government Architect's Office identified the role of invasive palm tree roots and associated soil fill in damaging the fence to the point of potential collapse. ``The sandstone dwarf wall has been partially lifted and pushed into the street by the roots of the palms and a structural assessment noted the potential for catastrophic collapse,'' Mr Levins said. He said the diseased state of the trees made it impossible to transplant them. An arboricultural consultant from the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney concluded that the trees were clearly showing symptoms of Fusarium oxysporum, which wilts palms. This is a disease of certain species of palms that was first diagnosed in the 1980s when palm trees in Centennial Park began to die. The first of the Pitt Street palms died in 1998. Mr Levins said a decision would be made soon on an appropriate plant species to replace the palms. Attached Thumbnails

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Landmark Tree Felled\| Brisbane Council Blunder	Eric Frei	ANNOUNCEMENTS	5	19th May 2010 10:06 PM
Felled a Maple last Saturday. Pic's	munderhill	Picture Forum	9	15th October 2008 12:55 AM
largest tree that was felled	STEVEGODSEYJR	Picture Forum	7	21st June 2008 10:08 AM
124 year old cocos palms\| queen palms	Eric Frei	General Tree Chat	11	6th May 2008 12:14 AM
Historic Artifact: Catalpa in Jacksonville, Oregon	mdvaden	General Tree Chat	17	30th September 2007 12:31 PM