Controversial pruning at Cathedral Square, Brisbane

Ekka · Sep 6, 2006

I was driving through town yesterday when my eye caught the attached. I went round the block and found a park, got out, took some vid and these pics.

All I'm doing here is showing the pics ... I want to see your reactions.

This park is in the heart of town, tens of thousands of vehicles pass daily, thousands of pedestrians and many more office viewers out of multi story windows.

Let em rip.

Also, a link to this thread has been sent to

1/ Brisbane City Council

2/ Kurt Quambusch, publisher of The Australian Arbor Age

I encourage BCC and Kurt to get together on this one and write a story.

I am not going to reveal at this stage any further information or discussions I have had with either party as I want to present exactly what I saw, just like that, and what 1000's are seeing every day in tree care management by our local government.

TackleTree · Sep 6, 2006

That is a pretty ugly tree now. Sorry to see they turned that tree into an eyesore. Wonder what the logic or reasoning was for this or lack of common sense. Was someone mad there view out of the window was blocked? Shame. Was it a government contract job where they go for the lowest bid. If so serves them right but once again the tree suffers by the hand of a hack

vharrison2 · Sep 6, 2006

Ekka, that is sad. It looks like the trees down here that went through 4 hurricanes last year. Sad to think someone intentionally pruned the tree that way. Very sad. How does your city respond to improper pruning?

treeseer · Sep 6, 2006

Species?

Previous condition? Looks to have been lopped at a lower height some years ago.

Goals of pruning? That big honkin stub on the left remains after a whole lot of clearance was gained for the driveway. Will they have 20' vehicles passing by?

Looks like a classic case of topping; cuts made at a predetermined location with out any regard whatsoever for the tree's response. Internodal and horizontal wounds--it seems they were trying to do the worst possible job they could. Why were standards for tree pruning ignored--does the council also ignore standards for electrical and plumbing work?

This tree is a black eye for the community. The big stub on the left will only get uglier--and increase in risk-- with time. The contract-generating agency may be liable for future hazards resulting from this substandard work.

It would be interesting to see the council's criteria for selecting a contractor : Shiniest trucks? Well-connected? Low dollar? A dart thrown at the phone book? And specifying the work: " A little off the top"? "Make it look neater"?

Eric, all that is public information. Can you access it please?

We'll see how that tree looks 5 years from now, when we're over there for the ISA conference. I hope the council starts to take better care for its green infrastructure, and its image. This tree does not market Brisbane very well.

Ekka · Sep 6, 2006

Great stuff guys, keep at it, I want to see the authority speak for themselves ... I have spoken to 3 people, the last was a guy called Hess, from parks & gardens, I told him I'd be doing this and want the authority to respond.

For those of you that know me you know how I feel about this.

Lets be patient but keep asking questions, the answers will come.

This tree wasn't alone. Also on the wharf street side was the attached.

OTG BOSTON · Sep 6, 2006

OUCH!!!!

I'm wondering:

if this was done by employees of the local govt. (parks&gardens) or if it was contracted out?[/COLOR]

if this is a somewhat accepted practice in the Brisbane?(I KNOW its wrong. What I mean to ask is are there a lot of companies in the area doing this type of work so that the talking heads who put out the contracts might believe that this is proper practice)

if there are any laws regarding trees in Brisbane? In Mass. we have state laws which protect trees on public land from trimming or removal without authorization from the Tree Warden.

Keep getting after those Councilpeople EKKA. I believe our govt. systems are alot alike, and that is what the City Council is there for. Keep pounding them untill they respond!!!!

Kneejerk Bombas · Sep 6, 2006

It's too bad to see such huge old tree ruined. At this point, it looks like a candidate for removal. Because it would be impossible to replace, I'd say Brisbane has suffer a great loss.
People love big old trees, while council members come and go. Heads should roll on this one. Find out who's directly responsible and hold him liable for the value of the tree, arguably $10,000, $20,000, or more. After he pays, fire him.

Adkpk · Sep 6, 2006

Looks like a preempted strike before they nuke it.

Ekka · Sep 6, 2006

vharrison2 said:
How does your city respond to improper pruning?

Great question. I'd like to see them answer that.

squisher · Sep 6, 2006

how old is that tree? Someone should be in major crap for that. How was the tree before or has it been tortured like this on an ongoing basis? I have alot to learn still and if something's over my head I will refer a customer/client to someone with more knowledge. Looks like that is what should have happened here before that tree was butchered.

Was there some kind of a problem with the tree and this was someones idea of treatment?

l2edneck · Sep 6, 2006

Just awful........

unfortunatly we have the same problem.What is what we call "hat racked".Be honest i wouldnt hang my hat on it.Ill have to take a ride today and get a similar pic of a pine that was done years ago.Blocks from the municipalities offices.Its a cryin shame.That and people that get paid and split are exactly what makes people frown upon us decent tree men.Keep up the good work ekka.If that type of work is let to continue there will be no industry for our children.

xtremetrees · Sep 6, 2006

Looks like it got dead wooded. Roots should have been treated. Ekka Are you outfitted to treat roots. If you are you can help if your not refer them to who can.

bowline · Sep 6, 2006

Give em hell.

rebelman · Sep 6, 2006

Welcome to Arkansas! That is sub standard. Is that "what the customer wanted?" Good posts all around, yes give 'em HELL Ekka!

M.D. Vaden · Sep 6, 2006

rebelman said:
Welcome to Arkansas! That is sub standard. Is that "what the customer wanted?" Good posts all around, yes give 'em HELL Ekka!

I've never really had a reason to prune trees in that fashion. Some customers have asked, but I avoid it.

If a tree was loaded with deadwood and bizarre branches, and had to be hat-racked, there's no reason to do it in one session.

It would have to be done in stages.

But how many trees do you know of that have to be hat-racked.

What season are you in down there anyhow? We're just a few weeks from the beginning of autumn. How about you?

ray benson · Sep 6, 2006

Very picturesque Square. The stately old tree looks to be at least 2.5 meters diameter(dbh). It has to be older than any of the surrounding buildings. Seems no professional arborists were consulted with regards to the fill added around the tree or the hack job on the so called pruning. The tree reeks of incompetent nepotism or someone is kicking back money to do the job. It is a slap in the face to all who live in Brisbane. What a shame!

jonseredbred · Sep 6, 2006

IT IS ART, I SAY !!!!, unbelievable, but we have all seen it before.

M.D. Vaden · Sep 6, 2006

jonseredbred said:
IT IS ART, I SAY !!!!, unbelievable, but we have all seen it before.

Yes, here is a decoration that I photographed in Newberg, Oregon.

The weather was perfect that day, with storm clouds in the distance.

It seemed right for a hat-rack photo. This was a Japanese maple.

The deadwood and sunburn on this specimen should illustrate what can happen to that tree for which this thread is about.

Jason-jay · Sep 6, 2006

Brisbane - Subject tree Ficus Virens

It's a shame when viewing responses from around the world that negatives which appear rather then real questions requesting explanations.

The subject tree is a part of research with majority of the states qualified and recognised arborist involved.

In Brief the subject tree was transplanted in 1987 and is considered significant green capital to Brisbane City Council. The subject tree recently had Hexazinone poured over a section of roots @ 20%. Basically long history with a detail of events supporting the actions to date.

Please lets all look beyond our knowledge of tree pruning principles and research Brisbane City Council offers arboriculture.

Kind regards,

Jason-jay

M.D. Vaden · Sep 7, 2006

Jason-jay said:
It's a shame when viewing responses from around the world that negatives which appear rather then real questions requesting explanations.

The subject tree is a part of research with majority of the states qualified and recognised arborist involved.

In Brief the subject tree was transplanted in 1987 and is considered significant green capital to Brisbane City Council. The subject tree recently had Hexazinone poured over a section of roots @ 20%. Basically long history with a detail of events supporting the actions to date.

Please lets all look beyond our knowledge of tree pruning principles and research Brisbane City Council offers arboriculture.

Kind regards,

Jason-jay

It would be remarkable if a tree was transplanted in 1987 if it looked that bad.

So I'm taking a guess, that it looked better at one time, and that somehow, it a has deteriorated to the topped, mostly naked example shown in the photo.

Is that right, or was it always in that bad of condition?

Do the people responsible for it, understand what they are facing with all the stubbed tops, and the numerous exposed wounds on the trunk?

Or is this just a temporary experiment until a already projected removal?

Just for education sake, I cross-cut dissected one trunk of a big leaf maple trunk cluster, to show my potential customers what the inside of a tree looks like after it's topped. They are amazed to see how the pruning cut decay is stopped at maybe 14", but the decay from the top, goes 6 feet to 10 feet down into the trunk.

In the image that is either displayed or attached, all the dark area is decay. this is in my odds and ends album - will be there for a while - it's duplicated in my tree care album

So, when I look at the tree that this thread is about, it's not hard to visualize the vast amount of decay. Not only per cut, but the way that all the decay zones converge. That tree would make a great microorganism and decay experiment.

http://imageevent.com/mdvaden/utility?p=2&n=1&m=75&c=3&l=0&w=4&s=0&z=2

That's the cross-cut link.

Controversial pruning at Cathedral Square, Brisbane

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