The Norfolk pines that have defined Burnie’s CBD waterfront for years have now been cut down.
The Burnie City Council voted in September to remove the trees following growing concerns about public safety and the declining condition of the ageing pines.
An arborist’s report commissioned earlier this year found all five trees were under stress, with sparse and stunted foliage throughout their canopies.
One tree was deemed a moderate risk to pedestrians and vehicles due to the likelihood of falling branches, while the remaining four were considered low risk.
Two of the pines had been propped up with concrete blocks since 2009 after becoming structurally compromised during earlier waterfront upgrade works.
Councillor Ken Dorsey, who moved the motion, acknowledged the trees’ importance to Burnie’s identity but said their poor condition left the council with little choice.
He also raised concerns about liability if a falling branch were to injure someone in the popular beachfront area.
The trees had also become home to large numbers of starlings, leading to persistent hygiene problems and a build-up of droppings on nearby walkways and public spaces.
Deputy mayor Giovanna Simpson supported the removal but stressed the need for replacement plantings to maintain the foreshore’s appeal.
The removal has drawn mixed reactions from locals, some saddened by the newly bare waterfront, with others welcoming the cleaner, more open space.
Council has indicated replacement trees will be considered as part of broader foreshore enhancement plans currently in development.
