Published on 06 August 2024
The second stage of tree remediation work is underway in Machattie Park, and it is expected the park will reopen to the community in September.
Mayor Cr Jess Jennings said the start of tree works is good news, as it will allow the park to reopen after being closed for months as trees have posed a significant safety risk to park users.
“The first work was undertaken in the park in March this year on trees where the flying foxes were not roosting. The current works had to be delayed until the remainder of the Flying Fox colony had left.
“In November 2023, early into this season’s flying fox arrival, the flying fox population in Machattie Park exploded to more than 21,000 individuals, with large numbers of animals setting up roost on each of the large trees throughout the entire Machattie Park site, competing with each other for roosting space. While the numbers of flying foxes reduced quickly, significant damage occurred to trees throughout the park, including branch failures, split branches and fractures, with many detached branches remaining suspended within canopies.
“Specialist arboricultural contractors have now commenced tree remediation works to the remaining trees in Machattie Park. The works to be undertaken will involve the pruning and removal of broken branches and hangers within many of the trees, as well as some necessary amenity pruning and weight reduction to ensure tree health into the future.
“Other works to be undertaken following the tree remedial works will include a general tidy up of the gravel path network and clean up of lawn areas before the whole park is reopened to the community.
“We hope to have the remaining closed section of Machattie Park opened at the beginning of September 2024,” Cr Jennings said.