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DANGEROUS: This tree appeared perfectly healthy until a mild wind blew it down and revealed fungi damage to its roots.
The City of Whyalla is embarking on a vital project to address the issue of dead, dying and unsafe trees in our city.
An audit of trees in Whyalla has revealed many have Bracket Fungi which is fatal. This fungi eats away at the roots and while the tree may appear healthy looking at its branches and leaf level, its roots are being hollowed out by the fungi and it is at risk of suddenly falling.
“No one likes to see beautiful big trees cut down but when they pose a danger to property and life, this is the only option.”
This presents an obvious safety hazard for the public when otherwise healthy-looking trees can fall without warning.
Council has identified 34 trees with fatal infestation of Bracket Fungi and another 32 which are already dead or dying from other causes. Most of these trees are between 30 and 50-years-old which is the average life span for a tree in Whyalla conditions.
DECIMATED: The destroyed root system caused by Bracket Fungi in a recent fallen Whyalla tree.
Council will be removing all dead and dying trees and those unsafe with Bracket Fungi. Nearby residents to all the affected trees have been notified with a letterbox drop.
“This fungi is deadly for trees and dangerous for the public because the trees generally look alive and well,” Council Arboriculture Supervisor Graeme Stephenson said.
“People may wonder why we are removing trees full of branches and green leaves but they have been undermined at the root system by this fungi and could fall down at any moment.
“Some of the trees are quite big and could cause substantial damage to cars or houses or even injure or kill someone.
“No one likes to see beautiful big trees cut down but when they pose a danger to property and life, this is the only option.”
A second project is being put in place to replace, where possible, all the trees earmarked for removal.
“We need to source trees that are going to thrive in our conditions and the particular soil where we are planting them."
Council will assess each area where a tree has been removed for a suitable replacement. The focus will be on planting natives where possible with Council placing trees to suit the respective environment.
“We will be putting natives in where possible because they require the least amount of watering and fit in with our environment and landscape,” Graeme said.
“We need to source trees that are going to thrive in our conditions and the particular soil where we are planting them.
“The aim is to further green our city in line with some of the exciting developments happening around the place.
“We are never going to be a leafy suburb like Burnside in Adelaide but we can put the right trees to suit our conditions that need the least amount of water and care but will flourish in our conditions for the next 30 to 50 years.”
The projects to remove trees will start in early February. Council thanks residents in advance for the patience with some minor traffic restrictions likely from the work.
FATAL FUNGI: This is the Bracket Fungi responsible for killling many trees in Whyalla.
Residents are asked to report any sightings of Bracket Fungi in public area treas.
Reports, or any questions on the tree removals, can be made by calling 8640 3444 via the customer request form on our website http://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=774%20by emailing council@whyalla.sa.gov.au or via the “report it” button on the free My Local Services app http://www.lga.sa.gov.au/mylocalservices
Below is a list of trees to be removed:
FUNGI TREE REMOVAL
22 Atkinson Street - Large 1
57 Bevan Crescent - Large 1
71 Heurich Terrace - Small/Med 1
1 Sandery Street - Med/Large 1
10 Yakka Street - Med/Large 1
26 McLennan Avenue - Small 1
Cnr Nicolson Avenue/Parfitt Street - Small/Med 1
25 Campbell Street - Small/Med 1
1 Scoble Street - Large 1
67 Flinders Avenue - tree x2, Fungi Med/Large 2
11 Mortimer Street - Large 1
63 Flinders Avenue - Large 1
75 Flinders Avenue - Med 1
8 Mortimer Street - Large 1
54 Mortimer Street - Large 1
407 McBryde Terrace - Med 1
Hall Street Flats – trees x 2 Med 2
47-53 Flinders Avenue across from shops – trees x 3 Med 3
119 McBryde Terrace - Large 1
Cnr Litchfield/Ring Streets - Med 1
11 Mebberson Street - Large 1
McGee Street Reserve - hollow Large 1
24 McLennan Avenue, near carpark opposite Callistemon - Med 1
89 Viscount Slim Avenue - hollow Large 1
Cnr Brodie Street/McDouall Stuart Avenue – trees x 2 Med 2
43 Patten Street - Med 1
12 Nicolson Avenue - Med/Large 1
45 Eyre Avenue - Med 1
35 Colebrook Street - Med/Large 1
HOLLOW/DEAD TREE REMOVAL
McRitchie Crescent/Norton Street, reserve nature strip - trees x 3 Large 3
11 Geddes Street, SA Power to reduce over powerlines - Dead Large 1
Cnr Blight Street & Broadbent Terrace - Large 1
16 Dunsford Street - Large 1
12 Edgar Street - Med 1
Cnr Berry & Dennis Streets - Med 1
152 Nicolson Avenue - Med 1
Cnr Beck Street & Eyre Avenue - Large 1
13 Phillips Street - Large 1
6 Thomas Street - Med 1
11 Thorogood Street - Large 1
3 Thorogood Street - Med 1
Side of 47 Loring Street - Med 1
47 Head Street - Med 1
46 Phillips Street - damaged Large 1
42 Phillips Street - dead Large 1
3 Fisk Street- Large 1
Davison Street /Hawdon Street - Med 1
8 Norrie Avenue - Med/Large 1
40 Fisk Street - Large 1
Cnr Butler & Essington Lewis Avenue - Med 1
218 Lacey Street - Med 1
113 Raws Street, white ant damaged pine - Med 1
1 Hincks Avenue, dead tree - Med 1
Cnr Davison/Fisk Streets, trees x 2 - dead large 2
50 McLennan Avenue - Med/Large 1
Lincoln Highway Extension (near GFG Alliance/Onesteel) median strip – Dead Large 1
83 Viscount Slim Avenue - Large 1
58 Viscount Slim - Large 1