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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The Shire of Harvey decided to remove all 42 spotted gum trees on the Holbrook Road verge in Australind after a June 2024 storm brought down two trees onto homes and an arborist assessment raised safety concerns. The decision followed resident consultation; it did not include the trees in the road median. Available reports confirm the decision, but not whether the removals or replacement planting were later completed.
What did the Shire decide?
After consulting residents, the Shire of Harvey decided to remove all 42 spotted gum trees along the Holbrook Road verge in Kingston Estate, Australind. The Harvey-Waroona Reporter reported that councillors voted 9–1 in favour on November 5, 2024. The decision applied to the verge trees; median trees were considered separately.
The Shire said the developer planted the verge trees around 2000. The decision followed a severe weather event on June 6, 2024, when two spotted gums were uprooted and fell on two homes. Residents raised concerns, and the Shire commissioned an arborist assessment of the remaining trees.
Why were the trees considered a safety concern?
The Shire’s stated rationale was the risk of tree instability and future damage after the storm. In a September 2024 report, the arborist was quoted as saying the species was expected to grow 45 to 60 metres tall and had a “consistent habit of self-shedding.” This statement is relayed through local news coverage, rather than the full assessment report. Council reporting also referred to a tree with a large split canopy that had recently been removed.
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Those are the reasons reported at the time, not an independent assessment of the trees. Councillors differed over how to balance safety with shade and the choice of any replacement species. Cr John Bromham supported removal on safety grounds. Cr Joe Capogreco also supported removal but urged the Shire to consult other councils before selecting replacements. Cr Robyn Coleman opposed the decision and said she wanted native trees planted. Shire staff reportedly said there was “unfortunately not a perfect tree out there” for urban planting.
How did the final decision differ from the arborist’s initial plan?
At its August 27, 2024 meeting, council agreed to proceed with the arborist’s minimum recommendation and consult residents about the alternative of removing all 42 verge trees while retaining the median trees. The October 2024 council minutes set out the recommended staged approach:
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| Approach | Verge trees | Replacement or reassessment |
|---|---|---|
| Arborist’s recommendation | Remove 15; remove another 10 without replanting at those locations; retain 17 | Replace the 15 removed trees with more suitable species; reassess the 17 retained trees after 12 months |
| Decision after consultation | Remove all 42 | Replacement planting was discussed, but the available reports do not confirm a final planting plan |
The eventual decision therefore moved from selective removal and monitoring to removing every spotted gum on the verge. The median trees were not included in that 42-tree decision.
What did the options cost?
The Harvey-Waroona Reporter said the initial option covering removal and replanting for 25 trees was estimated at about $50,000. The report said removing all the trees without additional planting would likely cost a similar amount. These were estimates reported in 2024, not confirmed final costs or expenditure. The same report cited a $425,000 Shire tree budget for 2024–25; that historical budget figure does not establish the amount spent on Holbrook Road.
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Were the trees removed, and will replacements be planted?
The available reports establish the council decision, not its later implementation. They do not confirm whether all 42 trees were ultimately removed, when any work took place, or whether replacement trees were planted. Although replacement planting featured in the discussion and in the arborist’s narrower initial plan, the sources do not establish the Shire’s final planting arrangements after the all-42 decision.
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