Warburton Tree update 1 June

Yarra Ranges Council has sought support from Victoria Police to enable safety works to be completed on a large tree at the Warburton Recreation Reserve carpark.

The tree, a 35 metre Mountain Grey Gum (Eucalyptus cypellocarpa) had been assessed as dangerous by four separate expert arborist reports. It is of poor structure and has a split in the lower trunk.

Over the last few weeks the split in the lower trunk became active and the risk to the community has significantly increased.

Council had made several attempts to undertake works on the tree to minimise the risk of it falling and to protect the community. The tree is in a carpark close to a main road, walking path and bus stop, and posed a significant risk to residents and visitors.

Council had also been having discussions with a small group of community members for a number of weeks, who had been concerned about potential loss of the tree and wanted Council to explore options to find alternatives to complete removal. Council commissioned a further independent report, which proposed retaining some of the tree as part of a habitat zone.

As part of those discussions, Council had committed to only completing initial safety works, so that the remaining trunk could then be assessed to determine opportunities to retain it for habitat, while also ensuring public safety could be protected.

Some of those initial works were undertaken two weeks ago.

However, during these works, the crack at the base of the tree was observed to be opening and closing, significantly increasing the risk profile of the tree.

The main entrance to a busy recreation reserve is fenced off and public toilets closed in preparation for further safety works to continue. However, protestors continue to trespass and find their way through the fencing.

To ensure critical safety works could be completed on the tree, Council had no other choice but to seek assistance from Victoria Police to keep the site safe and prevent people from entering.

Council has a responsibility to keep the community safe when we know there's a risk. This is a busy area of the town, and our responsibility is to reduce the risk of the tree.

Council also has a strong history in supporting cultural heritage values. Conversations have been held with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation about the appropriateness of council actions and safety works that need to be undertaken.

The tree does not have formal indigenous or cultural heritage, and Heritage Victoria has advised Council that an Interim Protection Order (IPO) is not warranted for the tree. Heritage Victoria has also advised that even if cultural heritage significance was established for the tree, this would not prevent works on the tree for safety reasons.

Council sought independent advice on the matter and has every confidence in the expertise and advice received. Ultimately this has been a risk-based decision to protect the public and enable habitat potential.

Yarra Ranges Council thanks Victoria Police for their support in enabling us to undertake these important safety works, and also thanks the community for their patience and understanding.

Council is still hopeful some of the tree's trunk could be retained as part of a fenced off habitat area at the site.

We are doing all we can to look at options to retain some of this much-loved tree and remain committed to working with the community to achieve this.

26 May 2023

Yarra Ranges Council is continuing to urge a group of protestors to vacate the site of a dangerous tree in Warburton to enable urgent safety works to be completed.

The council-managed car park has now been completely sealed off to protect residents and visitors from the dangerous tree and trespassing signs have been erected. To ensure the area remains safe, security guards are also in place.

Council is working closely with Victoria Police in relation to public safety concerns and an order to vacate the car park has been issued.

19 May 2023

Yarra Ranges Council is urging a group of some protestors in Warburton to vacate the site of a dangerous tree to enable urgent safety works.

Council has made a number of attempts to complete critical safety works on the tree to reduce the risk of the tree falling onto the Warburton Highway or nearby hardware store. The tree is also near a walking path and bus stop commonly used by school children. It poses a significant risk to residents and visitors.

Toilets at the site have been closed and the main entrance to a busy recreation reserve fenced off for more than two weeks now, to protect the community should the tree fall.

However, some protestors continue to trespass and find their way through the fencing stopping necessary safety works from being carried out. Not only is this impacting community safety by preventing the tree works being undertaken, it is also causing significant disruption to nearby businesses and their customers, as well as community members who use the reserve.

Council holds significant concerns for the safety of the local community and visitors to the area, as well as for those protestors who continue to trespass and climb the tree to prevent works.

The tree has been assessed as dangerous by four independent arborist reports. It is of poor structure and has a split in the lower trunk.

During some recent works that were attempted, the crack at the base of the tree was observed to be opening and closing, significantly increasing the risk profile of the tree.

We understand the sadness that comes with the loss of a significant and beautiful tree. However, Council has a responsibility to keep the community safe when we know there's a risk.

This is a busy area of the town, and it's critical that we reduce the risk of this tree failing.

Any vehicles within the fenced exclusion zone will be towed, and we remind the community trespassing is prohibited.

What type of tree is it?

The tree is a large Mountain Grey Gum (Eucalyptus cypellocarpa).

What is the problem with the tree?

Four arborist reports have found the tree to be dangerous. It is of poor structure and has a split in the lower trunk.

Around 80 per cent of the tree's wood is decayed as a result of a wood-rotting fungus, which means there is little structural wood remaining in the tree.

The tree is close to a main road, walking path and bus stop commonly used by school children, and poses an unacceptable risk to residents and visitors. It is also close to a public toilet, car park and entry to a busy sports oval. It poses an unacceptable risk to residents and visitors.

The tree looks healthy – how can it be so dangerous?

There is no doubt the tree's leaf canopy is in good condition. However, the problem with the tree is its structure, not its health.

There is extensive decay at the base of the tree. The tree's leafy canopy acts as a wind sail. The more canopy and leaves you have, the more wind it catches. The force of the wind becomes trapped into the decayed area at the base of the tree, putting the tree at risk of falling.

What reports and inspections on the tree have taken place?

An initial report was undertaken on the tree in November 2022, which recommended the tree be removed. Understanding the significance of the tree, our arborists sought a second opinion and organised for another arborist report mid-January 2023, where a tomograph was undertaken on the tree.

Following that, Council spent time exploring other alternatives (discussed below) before coming to the unfortunate conclusion that removing the tree would be the safest option.

As part of Council's commitment to explore options that might be available to retain habitat for the tree at the Warburton Recreation Reserve carpark, Council also commissioned another independent arborist report for an additional assessment of the tree, and consideration of options other than complete removal.

The report reiterates the risk to public safety of the tree in its current state. It recommends works that should be undertaken to reduce the risk level of the tree to 'low', while also retaining the lower trunk as a habitat tree.

A fauna report has also been undertaken to fully understand the use of the tree's hollows by fauna, including Galahs that appear to be roosting. There has however been no fauna identified as currently living in the hollows.

What steps have been taken to preserve the tree?

Following an arborist report in 2016 for this tree, Council has made numerous efforts to extend and preserve its life span.

That work has included regular arborist reports, dynamic cabling, bracing and pruning. Despite Council's best efforts to preserve the tree, reports using a Sonic Tomograph – an instrument used for measuring decay and the structural integrity of trees – have also shown consistent and worsening degradation in the tree wood since 2016.

Two cables tied in the tree's upper canopy are currently providing the main structural support for the tree.

How can a Sonic Tomograph record the structure of a tree?

A sonic tomograph, which is a non-invasive technology, sends sound waves through the tree's trunk. A number of sensors are placed around the trunk that map the soundwaves, providing a diagram showing the extent of the decay.

What options are being explored to save the tree?

Council has looked at several options to retain the tree, including reducing the canopy's height down while retaining some of the branches and leaves so that it still looks like a tree.

As part of Council's commitment to explore options that might be available to retain habitat for the tree at the Warburton Recreation Reserve carpark, Council commissioned another independent arborist report for an additional assessment of the tree, to consider options other than complete removal.

The report reiterated the risk to public safety of the tree in its current state. It recommended works that should be undertaken to reduce the risk level of the tree to 'low', while also retaining the lower trunk as a habitat tree.

Some of those initial works were undertaken four weeks ago. However, during these works, the crack at the base of the tree was observed to be opening and closing, significantly increasing the risk profile of the tree.

Further assessments highlighted the need for more of the tree to be cut than was first thought.

Council remains committed to exploring options to retain the remaining trunk for habitat once further safety works can be completed to reduce the risk profile of the tree and keep the

Why can't more cabling or bracing be added to the tree to help protect it?

The tree is very decayed at the base. The lack of sound wood is compromising the structure of the tree and reducing its ability to safely remain standing. Adding extra cabling and bracing would not reduce the risk of the tree failing at the base or reduce the risk to public safety.

What else can be done to acknowledge the significance of this tree for the Warburton community?

In recognition of the tree's significance within the Warburton community, Council will take steps to protect the wood from the tree as much as possible during risk reduction work, with the hope it can be made available to the community for use in art, and other creative projects.

These options will continue to be explored as part of discussions with the community about how to honour the importance of this tree at the site.

What steps are being taken to protect wildlife living in the tree's hollows?

Council commissioned a fauna report to fully understand the use of the hollow in the tree by fauna, including Galahs which appeared to be roosting. The report has since found there are no fauna currently living in the hollows.

All efforts will be made to ensure the wellbeing of any fauna found during works.

Has this tree been recognised for any indigenous or cultural heritage?

Council has a strong history in supporting cultural heritage values. Conversations have been held with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation about the appropriateness of council actions and safety works that need to be undertaken.

The tree does not have formal indigenous or cultural heritage, and Heritage Victoria has advised Council that an Interim Protection Order (IPO) is not warranted for the tree.

Heritage Victoria has also advised that even if cultural heritage significance was established for the tree, this would not prevent works on the tree for safety reasons.

If the tree is dangerous, why is it taking so long to cut it down?

Council has made several attempts to undertake works on the tree to minimise the risk of it falling and to protect the community.

Understanding the significance of this tree in the Warburton township, plans to undertake safety works on the tree had been stalled pending further investigations into options to retain part of the tree for habitat, following concerns from some parts of the community.

Some initial safety works were undertaken four weeks ago. However, during some high winds, part of the tree's root plate was seen moving out of the ground, significantly increasing the risk profile of the tree. Works were called off when a protestor climbed up the tree.

Council is still concerned about the safety of this tree and the risk it poses to the public.

However, works cannot begin until the area can be made safe. While an exclusion zone has been created around the tree using fencing to help keep community safe, some protestors continue to enter the site.

Why was the tree included in the Warburton Urban Design Framework?

Design work for the Warburton Urban Design Framework was undertaken in 2022 before the damage to the tree was understood.

What are the next steps?