Community & Business
17 October, 2024
Investigation into poisoning tree claims
FEARS that trees within the Atherton Arboretum have been poisoned are being investigated by the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI).
The move follows concerns of a passing resident who spotted a cluster of dead trees within the Arboretum, through the fence, took photographs and forwarded them to the department and its pollution hotline.
He noticed a number of the trees were ringed and others had pink tape around their trunks.
A department spokesperson said DESI was “aware of the concerns raised regarding the alleged poisoning of the trees at the Atherton Arboretum and will be making further enquiries to determine if there have been any offences under the Queensland Heritage Act 1992”.
The tree stand on the corner of Maunds Rd and Groves Street was created by the CSIRO some 50 years ago and contains rare and threatened species. The plantations future became uncertain when the Federal Government closed the CSIRO, and the property went to sale.
Despite being privately owned, the site became the centre of a community push for heritage listing in a bid to protect the trees. This was granted in August for the Arboretum section of the property.
“Owners of heritage-listed places are responsible for maintaining the heritage values of their properties,” the spokesperson said.
“The protection of Queensland’s heritage is crucial to preserving our unique cultural identity, history, and biodiversity.
“Strong penalties apply for developing a heritage-listed place without the required approvals. The maximum penalty is $2.74 million for an individual or over $13 million for a corporation.”
Experienced local foresters, Dr Kevin Harding, and Dr Greg Unwin (who worked at the former CSIRO site for 18 years) said as representatives of the Friends of the Arboretum community group they would not comment on the ongoing investigation except to say the matter was being taken very seriously by DESI.
However, asked whether it was fair to place the burden of care on the private owner, or whether the arboretum should be under state control, they told The Express that the property owner was clearly informed before and during the sale process in late 2023 that the Atherton Arboretum had historical and heritage significance and would be subject to Heritage Listing consideration and a covenant clause had been included in the settlement negotiations.
“Our opinion is that it is most unfortunate that the CSIRO did not subdivide the site to excise this nationally and internationally significant Arboretum before undertaking a sale to divest the site from their asset base,” they said in a statement.
“The Arboretum on a separate title could have been gifted in Trust to either the State Government or the Tablelands Regional Council to maintain it in the long term without a large up-front capital cost commitment by the state or local government.”
The owner of the property was contacted by The Express but declined to comment.
