Summer tree-watering plans? Hmmm, take that on notice

5
2722

By KIERAN FINNANE

 

Has council acquired more watering infrastructure, for instance another watering truck?

 
Left: This photo was taken in May. The tree was still standing recently and may be still. There are multiple dead trees on the streets of the CBD.
 
 

Councillor Jimmy Cocking was asking the question, looking ahead to the summer and the fate of the town’s street trees.

 

They didn’t do too well last year: almost 1000 died in streets and parks north of The Gap – 992 to be exact. Many of those dead trees are still standing.

 

“We’ve had the conversation previously,” said Cr Cocking at last night’s meeting.

 

It has been had on multiple occasions, with mainly himself and Cr Marli Banks pursuing the issues.

 

In May Council’s Technical Services department revealed the toll: it accounted for 5% of the town’s 20,000 trees in public places.

 

In that discussion Cr Banks wanted to know about watering regimes, and whether council’s one water truck was sufficient for the job, while Cr Cocking was pushing to revisit council’s policy in the area.

 

There was no agreement to do that, but then CEO Rex Mooney undertook to bring more information back to council.

 

If that happened, it seems to have been missed.

 

So, does council have different watering plans from last year? Cr Cocking (pictured) wanted to know last night.

 

Technical Services Director Scott Allen replied that it was an “operational issue” and he would discuss it with the depot manager (in charge of the outdoor workforce).

 

On a brighter note, the possibility of issues like this dropping out of sight will be reduced by Council’s new CEO Robert Jennings’ adoption of better reporting methods.

 

He will be including tracking spreadsheets in his monthly reports to council:

 

One for council resolutions to follow them to completion, introduced last night.

 

Another for major council projects, updating their progress and budgets. This will be ready for inclusion in his February report.

 

And one for Elected Members’ queries.

 

Like, have the trees been watered lately?

 
 
 

5 COMMENTS

  1. I think they have two tree water trucks. And one big road work water truck. The same staff are probably busy doing more than tree watering.
    Would be interested to know how the Government contractors along the highway and Larapinta Drive managed their trees this year.

  2. For our part, we have five trees at the front of our rented Northside home. At least once a year we put pea straw at their base and at least a bucket of grey water to each tree a fortnight. It takes very little time and effort and, hopefully, keeps these trees in good shape through our increasingly hot summers. There is no reason to be constantly depending on the Council to do everything when we, as citizens, can also pitch in and help.

  3. I was wondering if there is a phone number we the rates payers can ring to get some of the street trees looked at.
    Many are dead and just hanging.
    A good rain and the roots would pull out with the weight of the tree.
    Someone is going to get hurt when some of there tree limbs fall.
    A special good look would be useful in the Eastside on Banksia and Oleander Streets.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here