General News
10 May, 2025
Tree felled for safety
A LARGE tree removed from the Railway Ave car park last week was dead and a public danger, Mareeba Shire Council has explained.
In a matter of hours, the tree behind the old Arcade building, was chopped down limb by limb and taken away on Wednesday 30 April.
In response to queries from the nearby Express Newspaper, council said in a statement the tree was felled after advice from a qualified arborist who determined the tree was dead and unable to recover.
“Its branches were dry and brittle, the bark was splitting and falling off, and it had begun shedding limbs into the adjacent car park, posing a safety risk to the public,” the statement said.
“While the council recognises trees provide aesthetic and community value, tree removals are only undertaken when no alternative option is available.”
The council was guided by its Vegetation Planting and Management Policy – Council Controlled Areas and Roads, which states that vegetation in good health and not posing a hazard or obstruction will not be removed.
“The tree in question did not meet these criteria,” MSC said. “However, a healthy sapling is growing adjacent to the removed tree and will be retained to continue providing shade in the future.”
It also defended the removal of trees further along Railway Ave recently, stating no approval was required to remove trees that were not listed as significant under the Mareeba Shire Council Planning Scheme 2016 (Environmental Significance Overlay), and no planning approval was required for their removal.
“Council is permitted to remove vegetation within road reserves when required and is not legally obliged to notify the public unless specific conditions apply, such as when healthy trees are removed for capital works.”
Council noted the only heritage-listed trees in the shire were the avenue of fig trees on Coondoo St in Kuranda.
