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Management Plan For Kay Street Elms Adopted

Latrobe City Council adopted a management plan for the iconic avenue of elm trees, located in Kay Street Traralgon, at Monday night’s meeting.

By Latrobe City - 20th October 2010 - Back to News

Latrobe City mayor, Cr Kellie O’Callaghan, said the management plan highlights the significance of Traralgon’s avenue of elm trees and identifies actions that are required to sustain the health of the trees in the longer term, as well as permitting continued community use of the precinct.

"Following identification of significant risk issues to the public arising from the poor health of a number of elm trees, a working party comprising councillors, council officers and representatives of stakeholder groups has been progressing the formulation of a management plan which will enable continued public use of this highly valued precinct, as well as maximising elm tree health, where possible.

"Discussions have been held with a range of stakeholders of the precinct in Kay Street between Franklin Street and Breed Street. These discussions have resulted in the agreement on the management plan adopted by council," Cr O’Callaghan said.

The management plan recommends the removal of five elm trees, which are to be replaced with advanced Scottish Elms around six metres tall. The five trees to be replaced have all been assessed by arborists, who have indicated the long-term health or growth prospects for the five trees are not good.

"One tree has 77 percent of its stem diameter that is decayed and this is spreading at the base of the tree. One tree has major structural faults in the canopy and the scaffold unions are decayed. This tree has a history of frequent large limb failure.

"One tree has a large split in the main scaffold and this cannot be pruned out without destroying the structure of the tree. This tree is in an area where school children congregate and needs to be removed before the tree regains its full canopy this year," Cr O’Callaghan explained.

"There are also two trees that have not grown since being planted approximately 15 years ago. Significant ground preparation prior to planting the replacements is anticipated to provide a marked improvement in growth potential of the replacement trees."

Cr O’Callaghan said the management plan also recommends inspection regimes and annual maintenance programs as well as the relocation of rubbish bins and street furniture, and designated areas for the Craft and Farmers markets.

"The elm trees in Kay Street Traralgon, between Franklin Street and Breed Street, are a significant boulevard style planting and enhance the character of the area. The trees between Franklin Street and Church Street were planted in 1919 and are now over 80 years old, while the trees between Church Street and Breed Street are approximately 65 years old.

"Due to the significance of these elm trees a management plan is required to maintain their health and protect the avenue by increasing the care and maintenance of these trees, protecting them from incidental damage and minimising the potential conflict with users of this precinct.

"Input of stakeholder groups has been a valuable part of formulating a management plan that will ensure continued community access and use of this precinct, as well as ensuring the precinct remains one of the City’s iconic public open spaces.

"Council particularly acknowledges and thanks REH Cork Club, St Michaels School, The Traralgon Chamber of Commence and Industry, Traralgon City and Rural Community Development Association, Traralgon Farmers Market and Traralgon RSL for their assistance in the preparation of the Kay Street Elm Trees Management Plan," Cr O’Callaghan added.

Media Enquiries:

Jeremy Bein, Media Relations Coordinator,

Telephone: 5128 5458 or 0407 862 977

Jacinta Kennedy, Manager Community Relations,

Telephone: 5128 5421 or 0401 824 195


Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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