With Monto centenary celebrations well underway, Council’s Parks and Open Spaces teams have been working to ensure the town is well presented for residents and visitors. As part of this, several unhealthy, hazardous, or damaging trees have been removed.
Most prominently, three leopard trees have been removed in Newton Street due to poor health, foliage, and aesthetics. These trees were significantly smaller than their neighbouring counterparts, and when inspected by arborists, disease and borers were identified. Their poor health was compounded by limited access to nutrients and water given their tight bitumen and concrete surroundings.
Council is considering alternative greenery options better suited to the characteristics of the site.
A number of other trees have been removed in parks around the town, including two in Lions Park and one in Memorial Park, which presented safety and compliance issues for playgrounds and risked damage to shade infrastructure.
Council’s Parks and Open Spaces teams are passionate about the look and feel of the region’s towns and, as local community members, seek to achieve the best outcomes possible for our region. In some instances, this involves consideration for safety and infrastructure as well as the unrecoverable health of trees and other vegetation. Removal decisions are not made lightly.
Council acknowledges the value that trees add to our communities and streetscapes. Wherever possible, Council seeks to inform residents of unavoidable prominent tree removal before removal occurs; however, this is not always possible. In this instance, a scheduling matter led to the removal without prior public notification.
Council apologises for any community concerns or inconvenience that may have resulted from the unexpected removal of the trees and thanks residents for their understanding.