Favourite Biggy Figgy now 50 tonnes of waste mulch
Big Fig Tree Fight
More than 50 tonnes of woodchips and mulch is what has become of the treasured Rex Smeal Park tree affectionately known as “Big Figgy”.
The removal of the tree, determined critical by Douglas Shire Council for safety reasons following three yet-to-be-revealed arborist reports stating it was beyond saving from fungal decay, was completed by noon yesterday, Thursday, November 12.
MPDT contractors working at the site since Monday have provided to council operations an estimate that 30 to 40 per cent of the material removed from the trunk and supporting vertical columns by the end of Wednesday showed evidence of fungal decay.
But all of the removed material was chipped on site, only photographs of decayed sections of the tree provided as evidence of the impact of the fungal decay.
Samples collected from the canopy cut down on Tuesday were provided to James Cook University for testing and identification.
Responding to Newsport questions, council said there was no timber cut from the tree retained for examination or for repurposing as the material is not considered suitable for reuse.
“Wood chips generated during the removal works will be quarantined and managed as contaminated material due to the potential fungal pathogen,’’ the council response said.
“No wildlife has required removal during the works and no wildlife has been harmed during the removal activity,” it added.
Council said the nature of the removal works meant it had not been practical to reliably separate fungal impacted material from unaffected material, so everything had been chipped and mulched.
“As a precaution, all mulch generated from the tree is being managed as potentially contaminated material and will not be reused.
“The mulch will be disposed of in accordance with applicable waste management requirements.”
By the end of the process, on Thursday, contractors had reported to council that there is evidence of decay affecting at least 25 per cent of the canopy structure, with approximately 60 to 70 per cent of the material at the base of the tree exhibiting decay, around double their estimate from the previous day.
With a replacement mature tree to replace Big Figgy a part of the planned restoration of the site, along with shade sales, the question of the potentially diseased roots and contaminated soil was raised with Douglas Shire Council.
“Council is awaiting the results of testing being undertaken by James Cook University to identify the fungal pathogen,” the response stated.
“These results will inform any further treatment or management requirements.”
The lodgement by members of the public of at least three Right To Information applications regarding the arborist reports which led council to determine the tree had to be removed requires an initial response to some of those applicants by today, Friday, November 13.
Council has ensured that RTI applications are being managed in accordance with Council's established processes and applicable legislative requirements.
