Council
31 March, 2023
Koala habitat gets the axe
A SPLIT decision from Warrnambool City councillors will see a cluster of trees inhabited by the nation’s most iconic marsupial removed.
Council resolved to remove a small cluster of blue gum trees from Warrnambool’s Whites Road after consecutive 3-3 votes required a mayoral casting vote to break at this month’s ordinary meeting of council.
The row of trees had been marked for removal since June 2022 due to concern the root system and rapidly-growing trees threatened neighbouring homes and infrastructure, but the decision was delayed after a cling of koalas was identified as inhabiting the area.
Wildlife groups and members of the community raised red flags for the wellbeing of the native fauna, which saw council engage an arboriculture consultant to develop an independent report on the health, sustainability and future management concerns of the trees.
It was identified the growing roots posed a threat of cracking or shifting, creating inevitable damage to existing infrastructure.
The report found the removal of these trees would impact the habitat of the existing koalas found in these trees, in addition to the total habitat available to the overall koala population and other wildlife in Warrnambool.
However, the trees causing damage to nearby property was deemed “highly probably to inevitable” and would become “costly and unmanageable”.
The report before council made two recommendations; a complete removal of the trees with a spotter or a staged removal, with every second tree being removed to encourage wildlife to relocate naturally before removing the remaining trees within three months.
Cr Richard Ziegeler proposed an alternative motion in which the staggered removal option would be approved, acknowledging the trees were “a fairly silly planting in the first place”.
“I think in general unless they are causing great immediate safety concerns, trees should be preserved in most cases,” he said.
“In this situation I see that is not entirely possible. “I also see that we have certain conditions which pertain to the fauna. We’ve got koalas, birds and all the rest of it.
“I think that a staged removal would help to address the rehousing and revegetating with more suitable forestation in the area so we make it a little bit easier on the fauna.”
The motion was seconded by Cr Angie Paspaliaris, who acknowledged the trees would inevitably cause damage to surrounding homes and infrastructure.
“In my mind the trees would need to go, but a staged removal would be one I feel more comfortable with due to them being currently a form of habitat for the koalas,” she said.
Cr Ben Blain said he found the alternative motion “interesting” but foreshadowed a vote against the motion in favour of the immediate removal recommendation.
“It’s not like it’s a secret and everyone’s agreed these trees are going to have issues with underground infrastructure around that area,” he said.
“At the end of the day, the habitat is going to go one way or another. Whether it is now or in a few years. “Is it going to be any less detrimental to the koalas that are living there? No. They’re still not going to be able to live there. “Is a couple of years’ worth it to put the residents who live on that road at risk? I don’t think it is. Is it possible to rehome the koalas? Yes. Is it possible to move those houses? No.”
Cr Debbie Arnott opted to vote against the motion, with the support of Cr Blain and Cr Max Taylor, noting a potential liability for council.
“Whether they are removed now or in a slower time frame, I feel is not going to make a difference to the issues of koalas and the habitat,” she said.
“The longer this takes, the more likely there is going to be damage to infrastructure that council will be ultimately responsible for.”
With the vote deadlocked for and against (Cr Akoch, Paspaliaris and Ziegler voting for), Cr Arnott overruled the tiebreaker with the mayoral casting vote. With the alternative motion defeated, the original motion to remove all trees at the one time was reinstated.
The deadlock remained, with the mayoral casting vote again used by Cr Arnott to pass the motion.
Council estimates removal works, including necessary spotters and associated wildlife protection, would cost less than $10,000. Council resolved Work Method Statements would be developed to mitigate risks, and ensure wildlife aren’t indiscriminately affected through the removal process.
