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Loss of a tree

Appeared to be in its prime
Tasmanian blue gum on Liardet Street, December 2007

Not a trace remains of the huge Tasmanian bluegum that was such a presence on Liardet Street for many years.

Tasmanian bluegums are not indigenous to this area, of course. Perhaps the tree was planted in the eighties when there was renewed interest in Australian trees.

Earlier this year, I spoke with the arborist who was inspecting the tree, having a sense of where his close examination was heading.

While not committing to what the outcome of his investigations might be, he made this response to my inquiry: ‘Put it this way. This tree could be a bit like a teenager on the couch. Yes, it grows fast and tall but it may not be very strong.’ The implication was that the care and watering the tree received could have been part of the problem which led to its being felled.

The tree was vulnerable once before. In about 2001, when Becton were planning the Park development fronting Lagoon Reserve, there wasn’t the same level of planning protection in place for trees that there is now.

Jayne Richards, resident of Esplanade East and a member of planning advocacy group Residents for Responsible Development, was fierce in standing up for that tree in the planning process. The advocacy was successful and the tree was retained.

In the future, people may look at this blank wall and wonder why the development was configured in this way.

Where the tree used to be
Liardet Street – where the tree used to be

Part of the fascination of history is the things that didn’t happen, as much as the things that did.

The site now occupied by the Park Apartments was formerly a laboratory for the Gas and Fuel Corporation associated with the Gasworks sites on the eastern side of Pickles St. When the Corporation moved the laboratory to Highett, there was a short lived but serious proposal to consider the use of the site for laboratories for the Environment Protection Authority which was looking for a site. There was discussion about adding a second storey and co-locating the laboratory with the Victorian Archaeological society then based in Albert Park.

The Port Melbourne Council preferred that the land be used for residential purposes.

In the end it all got too expensive and the proposal was abandoned.

Other notable trees on private property that have been lost in Port Melbourne include the magnificent 19th century Moreton Bay Fig in the grounds of Holy Trinity Church, removed in 1999 to make way for a development than never eventuated, and the huge oak at the rear of the former Dispensary in Princes St.

The Society has no quality photographs of either of these trees in their prime. If you do, please get in touch using the contact form.

Source

PROV VPRS 011544/P/0001 Unit 1 000427

 

 

4 Comments

  • Christine Griffiths
    Posted October 16, 2015 11.37 am 0Likes

    Criminal! We desperately need to preserve the green we have (and preferably increase) or we will be leaving our children a cement and asphalt community. It takes years for a tree to establish. I have been encouraging my neighbours to look after their street tree even though the variety of trees planted by Council could have been better, they are ‘green’. Mine is currently looking very healthy.

    • Janet Bolitho
      Posted October 20, 2015 2.37 pm 0Likes

      Thanks Christine. Agree that looking after the trees on our nature strips is a good idea. You’re right to point out how long it takes for trees to get established. Many get vandalised before they even have a chance.

  • Paula Anderson
    Posted November 15, 2015 3.48 pm 0Likes

    The Park Apartments acted on advice from several arborists and tree specialists. The decision to remove the tree was based on the following information:

    • Being a significant tree, the tree was checked every two years by a qualified arborist.
    • The last arborist report identified a potential safety issue with the tree and recommended a specialist be engaged to conduct a tree scan.
    • The Committee engaged a specialist and the tree scan indicated the tree was diseased and the trunk had major decay which compromised its structural integrity.
    • The Committee acted on the recommendation and obtained 3 quotes to remove the tree.
    • The Committee approved a quote which included the submission of the relevant paper work to the Council to obtain a permit to remove the significant tree.
    • The Council approved the removal of the tree based on safety grounds.

    The company engaged to remove the tree provided a report confirming extensive decay in bottom of the trunk.

    The Committee went to great lengths to make sure the removal of the tree was warranted and felt due to public safety concerns there was no other alternative than to remove the tree.

    • Janet Bolitho
      Posted November 15, 2015 6.07 pm 0Likes

      Thank you for taking the time to let us know the circumstances leading to the tree’s removal.
      I will modify the post in light of the information you have provided.

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We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we meet and work, the Bunurong Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and pay respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.