Water exemption call to save trees

Alex de Vos
Environmentalists have demanded authorities pour more water onto the region’s trees and public parks to save them from drought.
Geelong Environment Council’s Joan Lindros said she feared for the survival of neglected trees around Highton and Queenscliff in particular.
“Some of the trees in Barrabool Road in Highton are dying and efforts should be made to protect them,” she said.
Earlier this year, Borough of Queenscliffe cut down historic cypress trees planted as memorials to fallen soldiers.
The borough announced last year it would remove all the memorial trees after cutting down four on Point Lonsdale Road because of their “declining health”.
Ms Lindros slammed the removal of the iconic trees.
She believed ongoing maintenance, particularly watering, could have saved the dying memorials.
“These have been badly managed in the past and all through the drought years have not been given any extra care, which could have included mulching and several waterings during the dry periods,” she said.
Ms Lindros urged Barwon Water to ease restrictions to maintain trees in public parks, open spaces and streets, “wherever appropriate”.
“A lot of water is used on sports fields, which is important but mature trees are just as important,” Ms Lindros said.
“These are important assets and are not easily replaced – they should be given equal priority.”
City of Greater Geelong’s parks and support services manager Brendan Gaudion said council had introduced a special watering program to protect “drought-stressed trees”.
“The City has identified 350 large, well-established trees, some of which are classified as significant, that require watering assistance,” Mr Gaudion said.
“We don’t have the resources to water all 90,000 of the public trees in the municipality, so we have set priorities to ensure that historic and rare trees and trees in high-profile locations are given the best chance to survive the current water shortage.”
Barwon Water had not returned the Independent’s call for comment before the paper went to press.