The roots of two large gum trees on Church Street in Cowes were recently removed after they wrapped around a water main, causing it to fracture.
Repair works to the water main and protection of the nearby sewerage main involved significant removal of roots, which has compromised the stability of the trees. The trees have been assessed as unstable and for safety reasons, will be removed on Tuesday, 10 September.
Once the trees have been removed, the damaged kerb, channel and footpath will be repaired. The removal of the trees will be offset with future plantings.
Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Brett Tessari said larger pieces of timber from the felled trees will be cut down to size and made available to the community.
“The rest of the timber will be mulched and used in gardens at the new Cowes Transit Centre,” Cr Tessari said.
“The landscaping plans for the Transit Centre have been changed and will now include more garden beds and trees, which is where the mulch will be used.”
The new landscaping plans also allow for the planting of a sapling that was propagated from the blue gum that was removed from the Transit Centre site earlier in the year.
“We will work alongside the Phillip Island Conservation Society to select the best species to plants in these gardens. We are fortunate to have passionate community groups like Phillip Island Conservation Society to assist and guide us in offsetting and tree planting,” Cr Tessari said.
“Taking down trees of this maturity is something we do only in the most necessary of circumstances.”
