August 1, 2023
Community consultation about the future of an 80-year-old hoop pine in Macalister Street, Murgon, has revealed that most residents do not want it chopped down.
In April, the Murgon Business and Development Association (MBDA) expressed concerns that falling branches from the tree could pose a public safety risk.
The MBDA also said they had concerns that if the tree toppled over in a storm, it could damage the 55 Million Years Ago Museum located nearby and also destroy a passing power line, potentially cutting power to the town for several days.
The MBDA’s issues with the tree were brought to the South Burnett Regional Council’s attention in April by Cr Kathy Duff.
However – after several Councillors said they could see nothing wrong with the tree – the Council voted to embark on a community consultation process to determine if the MBDA’s concerns had broader community support.
The results of this consultation will be presented at Wednesday’s Infrastructure, Environment and Compliance Standing Committee meeting.
Council officers will report the community consultation process attracted 79 responses, with 82 per cent coming from Murgon and a smaller number from Tingoora, Wooroolin, Kingaroy and Kumbia.
The survey found that 92 per cent of respondents were opposed to the removal of the tree; 53 indicated that if the tree was removed, they would like a replacement tree planted in the same spot.
The key reasons respondents did not support the tree’s removal were that the existing tree was healthy; the historical and cultural value of the tree (which could almost be as old as Murgon itself); and the tree’s environmental and visual amenity values.
Officers will also report Council had asked Ergon Energy to investigate the tree, and Ergon’s officers said the tree was healthy and did not pose any risk to the company’s assets.
Officers also engaged with the SBRC’s insurance provider to clarify what responsibility Council would have if the tree caused damaged to the surrounding area in a storm.
The response was that Council has a duty of care to act reasonably to prevent foreseeable injury or damage to a claimant.
Officers will suggest this can be achieved through regular half-yearly or yearly inspections of the tree, and occasional limb trimming.
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