• Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Read Our Newspapers Online
    • Read the Latest Western Port News
    • Read the Latest Mornington News
    • Read the Latest Southern Peninsula News
    • Read the Latest Frankston Times
    • Read the Latest Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Win drought ends for Langy
  • Brown has another talented stayer on his hands
  • Pythons win a close one, Kangaroos clear on top
  • An update on activities in Balnarring
  • Morris calls on Wynne to ‘end’ Ryman application
  • Happy finish to greyhound’s run
  • Prom catch threat to bays’ whiting
  • Experts fancy strait flight for parrots
Facebook Twitter
MPNEWSMPNEWS
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
MPNEWSMPNEWS
Home»News»Fig tree rescue $750,000 plus
News

Fig tree rescue $750,000 plus

By Mike HastNovember 9, 2012Updated:February 28, 2014No Comments3 Mins Read
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

THE new Frankston Council was confronted by a thorny problem at its first meeting in Thursday night – how to save one of the city’s iconic trees.

A problem solved 10 years ago has come back to haunt the council with owners of 138 and 138A Cranbourne Rd, Frankston, wanting to remove the 120-year-old Moreton Bay fig tree growing on common property between two homes.

The tree was the centre of attention in 2002 when the previous owner of the property wanted to cut it down to build two homes.

A public outcry saw the council buy the property and engage Archicentre to design two houses that would not be affected by the tree.

The so-called demonstration project was created to show how homes and large trees could co-exist. It was part of the Year of the Built Environment in 2004.

A report to councillors on Thursday night stated “the future growth of the tree was underestimated and eight years after the dwellings were constructed, the tree is impacting on the structural integrity of at least the dwelling located to the rear of the site”.

“The roots of the tree are raising and distorting the front deck and front portion of the rear dwelling’s walls and floor framing. The tree had left a large amount of debris on the roof, impacting on guttering blockage and drainage that would contribute to overflow, roof deterioration and possible water entering the dwelling.”

The tree cannot be protected as it can be removed under the so-called 10/30 rule, brought in after Black Saturday in 2009 to allow homeowners to remove trees 10 metres from buildings and shrubs and ground cover 30 metres away.

Council officers have been trying to resolve the problem since March, but the issue only came to public attention – and onto councillors’ radar – last week.

Council officers wrote to Planning Minister Matthew Guy seeking to have the 10/30 right removed in Frankston, but this has been refused.

fig tree 138 crany rd frankston 07-11-2012 cmyk by yanni 02An application to have the tree included on the State Heritage Register has also failed.

The council has two options: allow the tree to be cut down or buy the two houses, move them to council-owned land and sell them to recoup costs.

The Times understands the purchase price could be about $750,000.

The tree, which has a girth of 6.6 metres and a canopy of at least 28 metres, is worth about $190,000 in purely economic terms but its value is much higher as part of Frankston’s history.

The officer’s report stated: “The Moreton Bay fig is a landmark in Frank­ston and provides an important focal point in the landscape.

“Its loss would detract from the local environment and from the visual amenity enjoyed by Frankston residents.

“The tree is a link with similar plantings from the same era, such as those in the Melbourne and Sydney botanic gardens.”

Cranbourne Rd cut fig tree frankston Frankston Council tree
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

Morris calls on Wynne to ‘end’ Ryman application

May 17, 2022

Prom catch threat to bays’ whiting

May 17, 2022

Homeless camping trial under review

May 17, 2022

Seeking Jackson

May 9, 2022
Add A Comment

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Weather
May 19, 2022 - Thu
Mornington, Australia
13°C
overcast clouds
overcast clouds
1 m/s, S
61%
773.32 mmHg
thu05/19 fri05/20 sat05/21 sun05/22 mon05/23
light rain
14/13°C
sky is clear
15/11°C
sky is clear
12/11°C
sky is clear
13/11°C
sky is clear
13/11°C
Peninsula Essence Magazine

Click here to read

April 27, 2022
Peninsula Kids Magazine

Click here to read

March 2, 2022
Council Watch

Shire offers $500,000 to performing arts

May 2, 2022

Mayor claims record in trust appointment

April 26, 2022
Elections 2022

Shire accused of being off track with pledges

May 17, 2022

Security takes precedence

May 17, 2022

Liberals slide as independents climb

May 17, 2022
Interview

Volunteers track koalas for science

May 2, 2022
Property of the Week

278 Dundas Street, Rye

May 11, 2022
100 Years Ago This Week

An update on activities in Balnarring

May 17, 2022
Contact
Street: 63 Watt Road, Mornington, 3931
Mailing: PO Box 588, Hastings, 3915
Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
About

Established in 2006, Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated, independent media company.

MPNG publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News, Mornington News, Southern Peninsula News, Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News.

MPNG also publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids.

Facebook Twitter
© 2022 Mornington Peninsula News Group.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.