Is this good advertising? More Brisbane City Council blunders

[Ekka]

Every picture tells a story don't it ... goes the song.

So this picture now has a long story to it, in fact, for 2 years I have been lodging formal written complaints to Brisbane City Council and nothing gets done.

I've sent photos and all yet the sign remains. Over here registered home run businesses are allowed to display 1 sign of no more than 0.6m2 in size from their home.

This sign measures atleast 3.0m2

I actually had to tell them the law and got stuck into them that I have for 2 years been fighting to have this sign removed from a busy road and intersection where it has great exposure ... and a great hacked tree to prove they're hacks.

I have also seen the work, trees topped 30' up no worries, and spiked, tear cuts, huge stubs, typical out of control garbage.

Well, I had a huge spit. Now it's called case # cc21573250 and lets see if they're gonna tear it down and fine the owner.

Just coz you aint been seeing recent vids and pics of the battles I have down here doesn't mean they're not going on ... I'm always at it, non stop, trying purge this crap from view.

But I'm losing, there's more hacks and whackers than ever, and council doesn't give a chit.

 

[a_lopa]

Wow

 

[Tree Machine]

Fight the good fight, Mate.

 

[OTG BOSTON]

Things are much different in Boston. We have state laws that protect public trees and enough educated tree companies that you will rarely see this type of "lopping" on private property. In all contracts that I put out to bid it clearly states that there must be a certified arborist supervising all work, whether they be ISA certified or Mass. certified. The Mass. Arborists Assoc. has been spending money to increase public awareness of proper tree care (www.certifiedtreeandlawn.org) through advertising.

I always enjoy your posts Ekka and I realize that you are trying to do the right thing in an environment that does not favor proper tree care practices. My only suggestion would be to get together with all of the like minded Arbo's in your area and create an association that has some (political,financial) muscle behind it. A bunch of tree co. owners did that here in 1950's and it has worked.

On a different thread it was pointed out to me that this type of orginization could be viewed as a "trade union", which to some is a dirty word. I see it as positive no matter how you look at it.

IMHO choose your battles wisely, if you keep harrassing the Council they may blow you off as a "nutcase".

Good luck, keep up the fight, and keep us in the loopopcorn:

 

[Ekka]

The council get a few good wins from me too. They've had their free appraisals, pics, vids etc to act upon hazard trees.

Most of the guys I talk too know what's going on, the problem is above their heads ... somewhere between management and politics it gets all lost.

We have an association here called QAA (Queensland Arborist Association), many of their members are the treeloppers. In fact anyone can be a member, certified or not, then they put member QAA etc on their stuff and people think they're getting some-one good ... in some cases quite the opposite.

Now lets see, recently a QAA member's company was caught red handed doing a removal on a protected fig.

Also the TCA kicked out 4 QAA company memberships coz they didn't have insurance!

The more you dig the more you'll find, whilst the QAA has good intentions they simply do not have the guts to do the dirty work. I have watched for 7 years, and seen the environment deteriorate with regards to bodgey companies and work.

The answer is tree protection orders by the councils. If you dont have the laws in place to do things right you have no power to change things.

So QAA members aren't supposed to top trees. 75% of your pruning jobs here will request it, maybe even more like 80% .... so why be a member of a club that's gonna reduce your income?

QAA claims to be the largest arb assocation in Australia with around 120 members Australia wide. Starting to see the numbers at play yet?

Oh by the way, BCC employs around 2500 people

 

[OTG BOSTON]

Yep, I'm starting to see the picture a 'lil bit better. It really sucks that the QAA operates like that, although it does mean that there is room for growth (pun intended). There are a few oldtime tree hacks still around here that refer to the MAA as a social club, and I'm sure it was just that at one time. It seems to me that this may be the stage that the QAA in at right now.

Maybe it's time you become a leader of the QAA and bring it to the next level??

As far as tree laws go you should get some examples of how other countries, or territories do it and present that to the council. Environmental affairs are very in vogue right now and I have yet to meet a politician who dosen't want press coverage!!:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[squisher]

That is brutal. What's amazing is how people uneducated or not would look at that sign and that tree and still hire that guy. I get it here all the time though 'how much to top this tree'.

 

[xtremetrees]

I have to keep in context, and thats the problem with AI context, computers have problems with questions like "why birds fly south" once the context is figured out Ai will happen. That the educational history of tree structure has been inhertited from hand me downs.Reguardless of their mythology they act and respond conditional to what they recieved. The city is not to blame but rather fear of the change. Attack that fear and you will suceed bro.
Much of being a C.A. is educational. Remeber the reason people stay in the hells they know is because they are comfortable with the names of the streets. To shift a paradign takes much effort and sugar coating.
Perhaps a copy of our tree ordnance (USA)could help, again its vol work on your part ekka to educate them. Get them up to speed and they will appreciate it.
Over time.

 

[xtremetrees]

I have to remeber to live in fear is painful, we as climbers know this more than any I suspect. The knee jerk reaction to reduce the tree for the fear of it crushing the house is legit. Offer drop crotch pruning. I cannot hold in contemp another who is doing the best they can with what they got. Thou there is a comfortable feeling of superiority in it. With knowledge come responsibility. That kindly sucks and involves more effort on my part It seems more is being asked of me in all areas. Would I have it any other way.

When a tree kills me and I am gone I will be missed by the fruits of my labor.

 

[gasman]

That is brutal. What's amazing is how people uneducated or not would look at that sign and that tree and still hire that guy. I get it here all the time though 'how much to top this tree'.

Naw that sign isn't real, that's got to be a photoshop job!!

 

[jazak]

Naw that sign isn't real, that's got to be a photoshop job!!

If you look at it closely it has a mirror reflection, that CAN'T be done with a photoshop job.

 

[rebelman]

Here it was "tree toppers tree service" all over the one tv station. I emailed the station--embarrasing, sub standard, and I've had letters published about spiking and topping. My little fights. I like what you're doing Ekka, and Seer is taking it beyond also. Maybe arborist site and it's members will actually make a difference.

 

[Tree Machine]

"Maybe arborist site and it's members will actually make a difference."

Better here than anywhere else.

 

[jonseredbred]

Things are much different in Boston. We have state laws that protect public trees and enough educated tree companies that you will rarely see this type of "lopping" on private property. In all contracts that I put out to bid it clearly states that there must be a certified arborist supervising all work, whether they be ISA certified

Thats the biggest scam going on public bids, I am an ISA member and I know of more than 1 certified arborist who does work like shown in Ekka's photo's.

The last public bid I got like that they forced me to hire thier buddy, a certified arborist, he couldnt tie his shoe let alone a knot. The all time winner was when he told me we could not spike removals. I slapped him then locked him in the chip truck for the rest of the day.

 

[treeseer]

a certified arborist, he couldnt tie his shoe let alone a knot. The all time winner was when he told me we could not spike removals.

There is one in every crowd.:monkey: Is there a connection between that guy and the drop in passing grade for a CEU article from 70% to 60%?

"The council get a few good wins from me too. They've had their free appraisals, pics, vids etc to act upon hazard trees."

Have they had any pats on the back, or "Attaboy!"s, or whatever you blokes say? Keep the honey flowing, and some of that vinegar of yours may do its work.

 

[clearance]

Thats the biggest scam going on public bids, I am an ISA member and I know of more than 1 certified arborist who does work like shown in Ekka's photo's.

The last public bid I got like that they forced me to hire thier buddy, a certified arborist, he couldnt tie his shoe let alone a knot. The all time winner was when he told me we could not spike removals. I slapped him then locked him in the chip truck for the rest of the day.

Awesome, funnier than a herd of clowns, made my day thanks.

 

[Ekka]

Now remember, you have just driven through town and seen this tree.

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=36524

And then you see this sign and tree ... must be great, get them to prune your tree.

And when the council come out and ask WTF you have been doing to that tree .... you respond ....

research.

 

[OTG BOSTON]

Thats the biggest scam going on public bids, I am an ISA member and I know of more than 1 certified arborist who does work like shown in Ekka's photo's.

The last public bid I got like that they forced me to hire thier buddy, a certified arborist, he couldnt tie his shoe let alone a knot. The all time winner was when he told me we could not spike removals. I slapped him then locked him in the chip truck for the rest of the day.

CONGRADULATIONS!!! you win the know-it-all of the week award!!!! Thanks for butchering my post to fit your needs. Your one time personal experience is obviously enough to make you an expert on the subject.
If you had finished reading my post you would have seen that I cautioned against the anti-trade union crowd. I agree with your view to a certain extent, but the way I see it it keeps the work going to qualified people instead of fly-by-night hacks.
I have never forced a company to hire someone--you missed your chance at a lawsuit on that one genius.
Thanks again for posting something completely out of context:jester:

 

[jonseredbred]

Sorry, to ruin your post, wasnt my purpose.. Just commenting on yhr info in your post. I am not the lawsuit kinda guy. I just remember and save them for later. I know it was a semi isolated case and do agree that it keeps fly by niters away, but there are alot of good tree guys out there who are not certified arborists.

 

[Tree Machine]

....yea, what he said.