An image supplied by the Baw Baw Shire Council of one of the pine cones.
A heritage-listed tree in Warragul has begun dropping 10kg pine cones which could cause a fatality should one hit a person.
The 120-year-old Bunya Pine in Smith Street’s Courthouse Restaurant grounds has already dropped a number of pine cones, while another six large cones remain on the tree up to 20 metres above ground.
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Mayor of the Baw Baw Shire Council Diane Blackwood said in a media release the pine cones could lead to a fatality and an arborist has been called in.
“These huge pine cones have the capacity to be lethal if they were to fall on someone passing underneath from such a large height,” Ms Blackwood said.
“As such, we are asking residents to be vigilant by staying well outside of the barricades that we have placed out on the footpath while we work with the owner and a consultant arborist to reach a quick and satisfactory solution to the problem.”
“Although the offending tree is not owned by the Council, or on public land, our major concern is public safety which is why we have arranged for a 40 metre high elevated work platform to be in place in Smith Street [today] to get the offending pine cones.”
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This is the first time in 15 years council workers have reported seeing pine cones on the tree.
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In Northern Queensland it is fairly common for council to remove coconuts from trees that are in a very popular area . . maybe this should be done with this beautiful old tree.