By Callum Ludwig
A historic old Mountain grey Gum has stood in the car park of the Warburton Recreation Reserve for many years but sadly it will soon be gone.
Yarra Ranges Council made the tough decision to remove the tree by Friday 24 March due to significant decay and the dangers posed by its high risk of falling.
Yarra Ranges Council’s Director of Built Environment and Infrastructure Hjalmar Philipp there had been a significant deterioration in the tree’s condition since the last report in 2016, with little structural wood remaining in the tree.
“A recent report compiled on the health and structure of the tree determined that about 80 per cent of the tree – a eucalyptus, composed of two trunks – is decayed wood caused by a wood-rotting fungus,” he said.
“Currently, two cables tied in the tree’s upper canopy are providing the main structural support for the tree.”
A number of Warburton residents gathered at the tree at about 3.30pm on Monday 20 March, donning the tree with a sash of golden fabric and pinning messages of thanks and memories to it.
Mr Phillip said though the foliage (leaves) of the tree is in good condition, it is the condition of the trunk that has extensive decay and a split.
“Our arborists considered other methods to reduce the risk, but due to the trunk decay and the potential risk, the tree has been recommended for removal,” he said.
“We understand that the tree has been at the Recreation Reserve carpark for a significant period of time, but it now poses an unacceptable risk to visitors.”
Council are looking to do replanting in the vicinity of the area after the removal, with the former tree potentially to be acquired by Treasuring Our Trees to be given a second life.
Warburton resident Maya Ward organised the gathering and said the tree had been a very beautiful and prominent part of the village in her experience.
“I really wanted to give people a chance to express their love and appreciation and also just to see what the possibility was to keep it, understanding primarily that the council have an enormous responsibility to do the right thing and keep people safe,” she said.
“I think it would be really wonderful when they are doing the urban design redevelopment of the site that that tree and its age and significance is memorialized somehow.”
