By Sonia Isaacs
A HISTORIC fig tree, believed to be over 200 years old, continues to decline raising concerns among local residents and authorities.
Located within the Maleny and District Sports and Recreation Club (MDSRC) lease area, the tree’s deterioration was first flagged by community members late last year.
A recent major limb failure has heightened urgency.
A MDSRC spokesperson confirmed one of the tree’s four main limbs, previously considered healthy, snapped early last week.
Inspections conducted on Wednesday, March 5, led to the immediate installation of safety signage.
Council officers have taken cuttings from the tree to propagate new plants at the council’s Caloundra nursery.
MDSRC representatives expressed sadness over the tree’s decline.
“Well, our original surmise about the bleak future of our lovely fig tree proved correct,” a MDSRC spokesperson said.
“But this gesture of a rebirth from the tree cuttings some years down the track is a nice twist,” the MDSRC spokesperson said.
“We just hope Council ensures the ‘figlings’ return to their rightful place here on the precinct.”
