Newcastle Council Save Century Old Fig Tree Facing the Chop

BY SAMUEL BARTLETT

Newcastle Council is hoping to save a century-old Port Jackson fig tree which was set to be chopped down, after a branch fell recently.

The large branch induced fears the tree was beginning to die and would typically be removed but after closer inspection by expert arborists, it will instead be saved through an intricate cabling system to keep it stable.

The cabling system is expected to be installed later this month, including a small fence and garden beneath the tree's drip line, transforming it into a feature of the park.

Council is hopeful the restoration of the fig tree will extend it's life by an extra 20 years and continue the parks reputation as a historic landmark.

Councillor Carol Duncan says a younger tree will also be planted close by to ensure the continuity of the tree canopy in decades to come.

She also says maintaining the parks heritage and historic flora is crucial to protect local fauna.

"Preserving Gregson Park's trees is important because they not only hold sentimental value to us, they also provide habitat for native wildlife such as the threatened Grey-headed Flying Fox.

The park is also under development as part of the Gregson Park Masterplan which will be put forward to the Newcastle community in the near future.

The damaged Port Jackson fig tree in Gregson Park 

Councilor Carol Duncan and Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes inspecting the damaged fig

Fig trees well and truly on the chopping block

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

Workers from Newcastle Council will be firing up their chainsaws today in Cooks Hill.

Fig trees in Swan Street, Cooks Hill, are on the chopping block with 11 of the 24 getting the chop this week.

Interim General Manager Jeremy Bath said the council's hand has been forced on the issue with council's insurer threatening to revoke its public liability insurance across the city if the trees weren't removed.

"Consequently council's insurer has come to the conclusion that it is no longer willing to offer council public liability insurance unless we do something about the figs. Now we've looked at what we can do and unfortunately all that can be done in terms of making the street safe is to remove them so that's what council will be doing over the next three days," said Jeremy Bath.

Council did discuss other options including simply trimming back the roots of the enormous trees, but after consulting with residents the safest option was to have the entirety of the trees removed.

The trees will eventually be replaced with less invasive species.

"I'm very happy to say that the residents have made the decision to continue with trees on their street and in time there will be a very beautiful tree canopy once again in Swan Street Cooks Hill, just one that will be far more appropriate size and design so the roots aren't causing enormous damage to the properties as well as failing with increasing regularity," said Jeremy Bath.

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