December 3, 2013
The first of Nanango’s new flowering trees – designed to make an impact statement when motorists drive into the town along either the Burnett or D’Aguilar highways – were delivered to the South Burnett Regional Council on Monday morning.
The pear and plum trees will be planted from “bridge to bridge” on either side of the town.
Cr Barry Green inspected the first load, a group of mature trees and smaller trees, as they were delicately re-planted into a “holding yard” – a system of trenches and a watering system established just outside the Nanango CBD.
The trees will stay in the holding area until their new homes along the highway are prepared.
Cr Green said the leaves on the trees changed colour as the seasons progressed, which would highlight the “seasonal aspect” of Nanango.
“The pears are a beautiful tree. They have white flowers and the leaves go through three different shades of red,” he said.
Interspersed with the pears will be flowering plum trees, which have a pink flower.
Cr Green said the trees were the only ornamental deciduous trees that Council could locate which fitted the criteria set by the Main Roads Department in regards to girth size.
It was also important the height of the trees would be lower than the powerlines.
South Burnett Regional Council parks co-ordinator Stuart Hall said 27 mature trees – ranging in age up to two years – have been ordered from suppliers in Toowoomba.
A dozen arrived by truck on Monday morning with a second load expected today.
Mr Hall said work would begin next week to relocate the smaller trees to positions along the highway.
The larger trees would be re-positioned after Christmas after the camphor laurels currently lining the highway were removed.
The decision to remove the camphor laurels has met with some resistance in the local Nanango community, with Greens spokesman Grant Newson organising an online petition to save the trees.
At December 2, this petition had received 48 signatures.
Cr Green said Council really had no choice but to remove the camphor laurels which are a declared Class 3 pest plant in Queensland.
Class 3 plants cannot be sold and their removal is recommended, especially in areas close to waterways.
Cr Green said the camphor laurels were also preventing the highway from being widened and were causing damage to underground infrastructure.
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