By JESSE GRAHAM
A SIGNIFICANT tree outside a Healesville cafe was quickly cut down by the council last week, after dangerously dropping limbs near pedestrians.
The Yarra Ranges Council removed a large poplar tree on Green Street, near Mocha and Lime cafe, on Wednesday 26 November after the tree dropped a limb onto a bench underneath earlier in the month.
The council fast-tracked the removal of the tree after consulting with the cafe owners about potential business disruptions and having an arborist monitor the health of the tree.
Ryrie ward councillor and former mayor Fiona McAllister, said the tree was “completely decayed” down its centre, and posed a risk to residents and visitors.
“I wasn’t very happy about it (the removal), but another branch fell off last week on the bench … luckily, no-one was sitting on the bench at the time,” she said.
“They’re beautiful, I love them and they’re old, but we can replant – yes, it’ll take a long time to re-grow, but it’s not worth killing someone.”
She said the tree was part of a group of poplars along the lower side of Green Street, which accompanies a range of oak trees along River Street.
On the Yarra Ranges Council website, an administrator states that replanting would occur in the next 12 to 18 months.
The administrator said the streetscapes in Healesville would be assessed as part of the Healesville Structure Plan, which was currently being compiled and was set to be released as a draft early next year.
The health of two nearby trees is also being monitored by the council.
