Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Mainstreet Coordinator Debra Wales is ramping up her campaign for Central Coast Council to conduct another urgent inspection of trees on the low side of Woy Woy Rd (Bull’s Hill), which she says are gradually being suffocated by strangler vines.
After being informed on February 17 that an initial inspection had revealed trees do not fall into the category of dead, dying or defective and would not be re-inspected for at least a year, Wales wrote asking for a second urgent assessment.
But a letter she received on March 6 said Council had found the vine growing on the trees had “minimal impact”.
“The dead trees affecting the road have been inspected by a qualified consulting arborist,” the letter said.
“On this occasion, the trees have been added to a maintenance schedule as (they were) considered to pose a minor risk to the public and will be prioritised accordingly.
“A time frame for the works cannot be provided as the maintenance schedule is quite fluid pending competing priorities and weather conditions.”
But Wales said the strangler vines have completely smothered several of the large trees on the edge of Woy Woy Rd (Bulls Hill) to the point where they are now dead.
“The vines now cover the dead trunk and are affecting other trees,” she said.
“It is obvious from an inspection that the vines gradually creep up the trunk and smother the tree foliage to the point where the trees can no longer breath and they then die.”
Wales said Council’s assertion that the vine growing over the trees has a minimal impact is not correct.
“Our inspection of the trees clearly shows they are dying or dead,” she said.
Wales said the strangler vine should not be confused with the Strangler Fig.
“In some cases, the weight of the vines actually drags the smaller trees down,” she said.
“This is happening at the western end of Brisbane Ave at the intersection of Greenhaven Dr, Umina Beach, where a number of eucalypts are at risk of falling onto the road due to the weight of the vines.
“When these vines start to climb a tree, the simple process is to cut them at the ground level and they will die back.”
Wales said she was confused by Council’s statement that its “maintenance schedule is quite fluid”.
“I presume that means Council will get to these dying trees when they can,” she said.
Wales said he trees are key to the scenic protection of the Bulls Hill escarpment and are the first sight greeting visitors and potential business investors to the Woy Woy Peninsula.
Terry Collins