Stallholders at Hobart’s iconic Salamanca Market are calling for the removal of heritage-listed plane trees lining the popular tourist precinct, claiming their pollen is causing health problems and impacting trade.
Association President Emma Hope says the 22 trees are disrupting business during peak season, particularly for older visitors with respiratory issues.
“They’re London plane trees, so they’re an introduced species … big, beautiful trees,” she told Local Radio.
“But unfortunately, the health impacts are quite catastrophic. We’ve actually got staff members that can no longer work at the market because of the allergies being so bad.”
Plane trees are a common sight in urban areas across Australia and Europe.
However, their pollen can be a significant irritant for people with allergies and asthma, causing symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and wheezing.
Hope suggests the Hobart City Council, responsible for maintaining the trees, gradually phase out the plane trees and replace them with native species.
“I’m not saying ‘get rid of them, rip them all out’,” she said.
“What I’d like to see, and this is what’s happening in other cities, Sydney and Melbourne are doing this, is slowly phasing them out.”
She claims the council has been unresponsive to past concerns raised by market stallholders.
“We’ve raised this several times, dating back many years and unfortunately, nothings happened,” she said.
“The impact right now is dire. So the longer we wait, the worse it’s going to get.”
The Greens’ Cassy O’Connor said: “When they say phased out they mean cut them down. Heritage tress that people have been enjoying and loving for generations.”
