Council meeting becomes 'passionate' after $470,000 spent on tree
The Warburton Tree is now nothing but a stump, but many locals are passionate about keeping it.
People are shocked a local council has spent $470,000 to prune a tree. Last night, elected councillors revisited the issue and voted on whether to spend more money removing the small stump contractors left behind.
The 150-year-old Warburton Tree had been at the centre of a month’s-long feud that split the small Melbourne community it was named after.
While the beloved mountain grey gum was the town's oldest tree, it was showing signs of rot. In early 2023, when the council announced plans to chop it back due to safety concerns, many within the community argued against its entire destruction, saying it should be compassionately pruned and helped with new metal cabling.
How did the cost grow to $470,000?
As council continued to assess its options, the cost quickly ballooned. Precious funds were spent on independent arboricultural advice, legal advice, contractors, traffic management, fencing and security.
Council contractors ultimately trimmed the tree to a 10-metre-high shadow of itself in the dead of night, avoiding the ongoing protest vigil. Few residents were happy with the result.
At a Tuesday night meeting, Yarra Ranges’ councillors battled for around 45 minutes on the future of the tree stump. Because it sits in the middle of a car park, some advocated for its entire removal.
But while the Warburton Tree may no longer be pretty, it holds a special place in the hearts of those who fought to save it and is seen as a powerful symbol. It also continues to shelter native wildlife like galahs.
Was the council vote close?
Last night's council debate was described by one local as a “roller-coaster ride”. Another noted there had been “a lot of passion”. The debate ended in a narrow four to three vote to retain the tree’s stump.
Who is commenting about the Warburton Tree vote?
Warburton resident Nicole Fisher runs a social media page with hundreds of members that has advocated for the tree. She said she was “stoked” by the result but added it was “awful that so much money got wasted”.
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Mayor Jim Childs had been a supporter of the stump’s removal, but after the vote, he declined to answer questions from Yahoo News Australia.
Instead, he directed us to his statement on the council’s website. In it he concedes the saga had caused “considerable community angst” but adds he has hope Tuesday’s decision will “help to reunite our community”.
“While I understand the concerns from our residents around the cost of removing this tree, we live in a democracy where people are allowed to demonstrate, and Council has a responsibility for the safety of our residents, and we need to work with the police on these matters,” he added.
What will happen now?
Council voted to conduct the following works:
A 10-metre radius of asphalt will be removed from around the tree.
Then a permanent fence will be erected
More plants will be added around it as habitat.
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