Council weighing up removing Sequoia Pine Tree outside the New Norfolk Swimming Pool

New Norfolk's 129-year-old heritage-listed giant Sequoia Pine Tree outside the New Norfolk Swimming Pool is under the microscope again, with the Derwent Valley Council weighing what's best for the symbolic but stressed tree and the town moving forward.

DV Council CEO Wes Young said that " We will have an arborist reinspect the tree again and provide another report to council with recommendations and advice before any final decisions are made on its future".

At last Thursday's September council meeting, councillors moved and approved that the CEO act on the original arborist's recommendations in the report and commence the process to have the tree removed from the heritage register. Community consultation is also to commence regarding the potential to re-use timber from the tree and its trunk if it is removed.

Council sought professional advice in May 2020 regarding the declining health of the Giant Sequoia tree, with an arborist's report recommending the removal of dead limbs and the dead crown, and also that "the removal of the tree within 5-8 years should also be considered".  

The arborist's inspection also noted that the sealed road around the trunk was highly likely to have contributed to root damage, which then caused the crown (top) of the tree to die. Fire has also damaged the tree's trunk in the past, but it's said to be still in good condition; however, disease is also having an ongoing impact.

"Along with commencing further arborist and broader community consultation engagement, serious discussions as to what should happen with the timber should the tree be removed are also important". Engagement work should also consider appropriate interpretation signage, re-use of timber by local artisans and potentially carving of the stump into suitable public art," Council said.

"It’s also noted that discussions are underway regarding adding jetty infrastructure outside the New Norfolk pool and upgrading the pool kiosk, which will increase public use and amenity in the area. Safety risks the stressed tree may pose to the public now and in the future are also at the forefront of discussions.

The historic giant pine tree, planted by Warden Ellis Dean in 1897, is one of the first trees planted along the New Norfolk Esplanade, which formed "Queens Avenue".

Giant Sequoia Pine trees can live for thousands of years with council now needing to determine how to progress forward, whether that's removing the tree or at minimum providing feedback on how to manage a growing safety risk the tree poses to the public.