Two giant sequoias that have stood in Hobart’s St David’s Park for almost nine decades are being cut down this week after efforts to save the dying trees failed.
The City of Hobart’s tree care team started removing the sequoias today, with the work expected to wrap up by Friday.
Both trees were planted in 1937 to mark the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth and have been part of the park’s landscape ever since.
The council said the trees have been in decline since autumn last year and haven’t responded to repeated treatment.
While the dead trees don’t pose an immediate danger to the public, the council said their condition would keep getting worse and become riskier over time if left standing.
The council said the removal is a complex job, requiring a large team and specialist equipment to make sure the work is done safely.
A large perimeter fence has been put up around the trees, but most of the park will stay open during the works.
Acting Hobart lord mayor Zelinda Sherlock said the community would miss the trees.
“Watching these two giant trees come down this week will be very hard for the Hobart community and our staff, but St David’s Park will remain one of our most beautiful and cherished parks,” she said.
The council plans to replace the trees with two young giant sequoias later this year as part of centenary celebrations for St David’s Park.
Most of the wood from the two trees will be stored to let the timber cure, with the council to run an expression of interest process to gather ideas from the community on how the timber could be used.
“I look forward to hearing what ideas the community might have on how the timber from these fallen giants might be used,” Sherlock said.
“… Plans are already underway to use some of the timber as part of a new waterfront interpretation project.”
