EMERALD residents were left devastated after discovering that 10 oak trees, each 100 years old, had been mistakenly ringbarked and poisoned by Cardinia Shire Council.
The council had contractors conducting weed removal works in Emerald Lake Park as part of a four-year program, targeting weeds including sycamore, holly, and sucker growth of elms and oaks that had overrun the native vegetation in the area.
However, recent works have damaged the large heritage trees, which residents said were planted by world-renowned nursery owner Carl Axel Nobelius.
The council has acknowledged its mistake and is monitoring the condition of the trees.
Emerald resident Alisha Visser said she was dumbfounded as to how the contractors could have targeted the oak trees instead of weeds.
“They are planted in a big line, I don’t know how they can mistake big beautiful oak trees and ringbark them – I’ve walked down there and I’ve seen them and it was like walking into death,” she said.
“I’m just shocked, it’s absolutely monstrous. The park is one of Emerald’s golden spots, it really makes me wonder where people’s heads are at.”
Emerald RSL president Peter Maloney said it was unbelievable to see the damaged oak trees.
“It’s criminal,” he said.
Emerald Museum manager Chris Britton said she was devastated the council had made such an error but hoped it could be reversed.
“We’re very disappointed that this has happened but hopefully it can be resolved and the trees won’t die, as the arborists in council feel they could be saved,” she said.
“The idea was that the Emerald Lake Park has a grant to get the weeds out of the park and replant it with other trees so this was a huge mistake that they took out the oak trees instead of a lot of sycamore trees that have spread right through the park.”
Cardinia Shire Council open space co-ordinator Mark Reynolds said the council contractors were under the impression the oak trees were supposed to be removed as part of the works.
He said the council was undertaking cultural arboricultural works to help the trees recover from the damage.
“We will continue to monitor their health each month,” he said.
“Council will not remove large trees other than holly and sycamore from the forested area unless there are safety concerns in the future.”
