By Sonia Isaacs
A TOWERING crow’s ash tree overlooking former dairy paddocks off Tallowwood Drive, Maleny, remains standing for now, despite a council ecological report deeming it of “nil” environmental value and clearing the way for its removal.
Long-time resident Janice Parker said she only realised the tree was under threat when heavy earthmoving machinery arrived on the Enclave housing development site near Maleny High School.
She said Council’s report found the land had been previously cleared and the large native tree is neither mapped nor linked to remnant rainforest, meaning it does not qualify for formal protection.
“Although its substantial trunk and canopy were recorded, its environmental value was still listed as nil,” Ms Parker said.
With the project classed as code assessable, no public notification of works is required, leaving local residents unaware until works began.
While council planners say the developer is legally entitled to remove the tree at any time, Ms Parker and her neighbours are urging others to register significant trees in the area with council’s heritage unit before it’s too late.
Division 5 Councillor Winston Johnston said the removal decision was made under code-assessable rules.
“They’d received an arborist report, and unfortunately the tree had a couple of problems, so officers approved its removal. Councillors only have a limited amount of power under these circumstances, and once the decision was made, it couldn’t be called in or altered,” Cr Johnston said.
Resident Hans Erken, who has lived nearby since 2003, described the tree as a local landmark. “One of the most striking things about this land was the way big, beautiful trees were left studded through the paddocks,” Mr Erken said.
“People often stop to take photos and this particular tree is one of the greatest assets of the whole piece of land. If I were the developer, I’d have made it the centrepiece of a little park.”
Mr Erken said the planned removal of such a substantial native tree was a huge loss for the local landscape and the community.
GC&M News approached development representatives for comment.
