News
Minnesota Resident Killed By Falling Tree
A falling tree killed a Minnesota resident from Eden Prairie earlier this month. The resident, 56 year old Nina MacKay, was out walking her two dogs when a falling basswood tree with a trunk diameter of 70 cm toppled and struck her.
According to Fox 9 News, basswood trees are highly prone to falls. As the trees aggressively expand, the wood remains soft and weak.
Adventure Ropes Course Proposed For West Penant Hills
A development tender for an extensive tree ropes recreation course compiled by the Forestry Corporation is going before The Hills Council. The Forestry Corporation hopes to build the ropes course in the Cumberland State Forest near West Penant Hills.
One feature of “The Tarzan Trail”, as it will be known, incorporates swinging from a tree on a rope and landing in a net.
Bathurst Resident Seeks Council Reimbursement For Arborist Fees
Barthurst resident Terry Jones has lodged an official request for council reimbursements totalling more than $3,000. Jones is seeking the payment for expenses paid to approve the removal of several dangerous trees from his property on Braham Street. According to Mr Jones, ten of the trees on his property were old and in danger of coming down in a storm.
Initially, the council indicated that it was likely to approve Jone’s application to remove the trees. But a formal report on the matter forced him to seek an independent inspection by professional arborists. Bathurst council withheld approval until Jones submitted the arborist’s report.
New Planning Rules Affect Farming Practices in Colac Otway Shire
Under new planning rules in Colac Otway Shire, farmers will not be able to remove fallen trees and perhaps even rocks.
The shire council will implement the rules as biodiversity and native vegetation maps are updated by the Department of Environment and Primary Industries across Victoria.
‘War on Weeds’ Declared on Sunshine Coast
Throughout May, the ‘War on Weeds’ took place on the Sunshine Coast and involved locals replacing their garden weeds with free native trees.
Jenny McKay, Community Programs Portfolio Councillor, explained that weed swaps occurred over a period of a few weeks at 37 different locations. McKay said the project will help restore various parts of the local habitat with native trees.
60,000 New Trees for Bundanon’s Erie Park
Plans are in place for a new project to plant 60,000 trees on farms at Bundanon’s Erie Park.
The riparian zone of the Shoalhaven River will be reconnected with surrounding bush across approximately 23 hectares. The revegetation project will come at a cost of almost one million dollars.
Land Clearing for Farms Target
According to the environment group World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Australia, Queensland can reach its agricultural production targets without clearing new farm areas of trees and other native plants. The state’s target is to double production by the year 2040.
As part of the plan, the Queensland Government has recently proposed changes within its laws regulating vegetation management. Most significantly, the changes proposed allowing the development of new purposes for land clearing.
Researchers Develop Designer Trees
Nursery industry experts are partnering with researchers to develop designer eucalypts that will be ideal for smaller home gardens. The designer trees will also be suitable for planting in a variety of urban landscapes. The results are a product of decades of work, beginning as far back as 1996.
According to Dr. Kate Delaporte from Adelaide University’s Waite Campus, propagation work is occurring to produce plants with flower size, form and colours of a specific type.
Emissions Offset Through Masser Water Tree Planting Project
Hunter Water has almost completed planting more than 300,000 trees close to the Grahamstown and Chichester Dams. The project, which has taken 18 months to complete, is among the largest such endeavors ever undertaken in the Hunter region.
The trees have been planted to offset carbon emissions produced at the water recycling plants operated by Hunter Water. Spotted Gum, Broad Leaved Paperbark and White Stringybark are among the collection of exclusively native trees planted in the area. Overall, the land planted on extends for 160 hectares.
Trees that hold special significance
According to author Tim Bull, a.k.a. Tim the Yowie Man, it’s worthwhile to take a half-day excursion around Canberra and admire several trees that hold special significance to Australia’s culture and heritage.
It has been intimated that Corroboree Park was a site of considerable significance for the local indigenous community, although documentation about the history area is sparse prior to European settlement.
Click Here To Read More
