Why do people hate tree's so much !

[Deleted]

I just don't understand....

We moved here decades ago because the local council made the developer leave 70%+ of the standing old growth(tree's) beautiful iron barks and ghost gums. Now these block are just over an acre in size so no good for horses or cattle - they are way to small. Well the last remaining block in our street was sold a few months back and about 4 weeks ago a dozer came and it totally cleaned from side fence to side fence down to dirt 95% of the block and now a small excavator has arrived with the new owners with chainsaw in hand to get the last 6 or 8 tree's near the back fence,  now there are local laws about this but once the tree's are gone what use is it to fine the owners.

I wonder how they are going to feel when summer gets here and it's 35deg + of an afternoon - they better install the biggest A/C unit, when they build because they are going to cook    

I must be getter old and cranky

[stac]

Not sure about the old bit but as for cranky...rightly so! There goes the wildlife living in those trees they're obviously not nature lovers, they probably want to build a huge house on it and have the grounds looking like a bowling green.

[bobt]

I understand the frustration, I too have seen the same. Only time I support it is when the location of the trees make your home an unacceptable fire risk, but that is no excuse to clear the block.

Me thinks you should ring the council and let them know. If the council chooses to do nothing then it will not be long before everyone else is doing the same..

[Deleted]

Yes there is always a fire risk but it is something you must be prepared for when you live in the bush. The whole street is not very happy about what they have done, another property up the road and around the corner which was 2.5 acres did the same about 2 years ago and someone rang the council when the clearing was taking place - word is they were fined 18,000

The silly thing is - less then a 2 min drive and your in the new development area where there is only a few tree's, as it was a cattle property before development and the blocks are only 1 acre and a few $000's dearer.

I might wack up some nesting boxes as we have a lot of sugars gliders are here and I'm sure a few lost there homes.

[Mustang]

Make it a happy envioroment for the gliders, I'm sure they will respond.

[bobt]

hey lockyer

trees hanging over the top of houses is what I see as a fire risk.. grass can be a risk too. That still is no reason to clear all the trees off your block.

Yep the critters need somewhere to live too. Nesting boxes sounds like a good idea.

[kiwijim]

"Hey Guys" Just dropped in to give my two Bob's worth on an interesting subject,
I agree with the clearing of the land, "BUT" not to the extent of total clearance,

In my opinion, land should be cleared to prevent the spread of wild fires but only to the boundary, there they should plant evergreen trees, which will act as a fire-break and also stop the wind blowing top soil off the land.

this has been done overseas, in NZ they plant evergreens in long wide rows through the Pine Plantations and it has been proved very successful in slowing the progress of forest-fires,

I know it seems a shame to bowl over many old trees in new areas, but if they are a fire hazard, one has to decide, do they want to run the risk, should the worst happen.

This is only my thoughts on the subject as I've been fighting Bush fires for many years and I know what they can do and how many lives are lost, because of people not taking enough precautions before hand.

K.J.

[Mustang]

When I moved to Caloundra 6 years ago I used to worry about the big buck kangaroos on my early morning rides, I dont any more.
The major housing developers just clear fell everything.

One thing the council is insisting on is advanced tree being planted along the new avenues. I guess in a decade they will be tall enough to look ok.

[Deleted]

There is almost no chance of a wildfire coming into this estate, and in the 20 years we have been here only twice have we had fires around the estate (grass) but due to the small size of the properties and them being mowed and having 20m + tree's as the rural boys have said as long as you have a garden hose that can reach every corner of your properties we have nothing to fear from a bushfire and that has been the case - no fuel no fire. The property that was cleared is not on the outer edge of the estate but 2 streets in !  

I bet they will build a nice big home and sit on there back deck with there friends and say isn't it lovely we have all these birds and a wonderful outlook - only thanks to the rest of us who didn't landscape with a D9 bulldozer. We have a few possums that visit our bird feeder at night and the wife goes out once or twice a week with some cut fruit and hand feeds them, hope they still come around.

[snoops]

If the Council has laws against the tree felling, then they should get the full force of the laws applied. Not sure what they are in your area, but some Councils will fine up to $20,000 per tree removed without approval, and some make you plant 100 trees for every one you cut down....

I would take it up with the Council - it may be too late for the trees, but the fines might hurt them a bit and make them think twice next time.

[bobt]

I have 2 stories to share.

Some years back there was a tree cut down over night, it was blocking the bay view of a house in a wealthy Melb suburb. The offender was found and prosecuted, hit with a 30/40,000 fine the Council planted a new tree in its place and it would now be blocking that view again. Sometimes the fine is not significant enough.

In the lead up to the Black Saturday fires in 2009 a friend of mine who lives in an outer Melbourne suburb 'Narre Warren' had a grass fire burning at the back of his house the grass had been cut in recent weeks, the wind was so fierce and the heat of the day was high, the fire destroyed 8 homes, his home was saved. The garden hoses did nothing to aid the extinguishing of the fire.. His quote to me on the day "Just like piddling into the wind"

We need trees...

Now tell us Kiwi fella I have never experienced anything but snow in the land of the long white cloud.. That was January.. When does it get hot?

[Deleted]

Well the people across the road from the block have been told they had permission to clear it. It seems that since all the local councils have been amalgamated into larger council's they have changed there tree protection policy - they want more housing which equals more rates.

[Mustang]

Oct 20, 2015 6:43:59 GMT 10 @lockyer said:

Well the people across the road from the block have been told they had permission to clear it. It seems that since all the local councils have been amalgamated into larger council's they have changed there tree protection policy - they want more housing which equals more rates.

Ain't that the truth, where we live.

[wildgoose]

A sensible balance would be nice. You cannot prune a tree in my area without the council jumping down your throat..

[crowbar]

Ah, in general your neighbours always know better than you.
They might put up some nice designer shrubs in place of the lost trees.
Advanced growth ones of course.