The Society for Growing Australian Plants is incensed at a $375,000 agreement between the ACT Government-owned Yarralumla Nursery and MBA Land to supply mature trees during the next three years for Gungahlin’s parklands and streetscapes because only one of the nine species being used is native, and that one is not native to the Canberra region.
The society’s president, Geoff Butler, also criticised yesterday (Friday) the use of mature trees _ at an average cost of $40 each _ when experience showed that young native trees soon outstripped mature trees. Planting mature trees resulted in later problems because they were often root bound and blew over in storms more easily. “”Is this a bush capital or not?” he asked.
His society had advised the Minister for Planning, Bill Wood, that conservation authorities were spending vast sums restoring lost native habitat, and now $375,000 was to be spent repeating those past mistakes.
The president of the Conservation Council, Jacqui Rees, said urban spread was destroying wildlife habitat. We should be replanting native flora to bring that back.
The nine species in the contract are: oriental plane, cherry plum, honey locust, pin oak, claret ash, pagoda tree, manchurian pear, river peppermint and chinese elm. Only river peppermint is an Australian native.
The principal of MBA Land, Bob Winnel, said part of Canberra’s identity was as a seasonal city and autumn colours were part of that. It should be preserved and extended. Solar efficiency required deciduous trees in many circumstances, especially north-facing streets.
Mature trees had a far greater survival rate and with the spring-ring technique had an equal long-term performance. Mature trees helped prevent the stark look of new suburbs. It was a higher cost tot he developer, but worth it.
Mature trees did not suffer as much from owners who sometimes removed streetscape trees they did not like.