Eleven trees have been removed in town so planned road projects in Condobolin can go ahead.

The three projects include Harding Avenue, Primary School Safety Project (McDonnell and Molong Streets), and works in Busby, William and Lachlan Streets.

Harding Avenue, is a reconstruction project for the road and drainage and is part of the Heavy Vehicle Route Upgrades that Council is progressively completing around Condobolin.

This work will be followed by road works in Busby, William and Lachlan Street Upgrade works with the intention of improving heavy vehicle movements through town and improving local vehicles and pedestrian movements.

The project In McDonnell and Molong Street, known as the Primary School Safety Project, is focused on road and pedestrian safety improvements around the Primary School and St Joseph’s Primary School. This will include road works, footpath works, kerb and gutter and intersection improvements.

The total cost of the Harding Street Project is $800,000 and the Primary School Safety Project is $1,680,000.

According to Lachlan Shire Council Director Infrastructure Services Adrian Milne a report was presented to the April Council meeting, where it was decided that the best long term outcome was to remove the trees and replace with a more suitable species at the completion of the construction project.

“Four trees have been removed in Harding Avenue, because they were planted too close to the road and kerb and gutter and causing damage. The only option for the long term benefit was to remove the trees and replace with a more suitable species,” he explained.

“There were seven trees removed in McDonell Street. Five trees removed in the central median and two next to the kerb and gutter. Similarly, the trees were removed because they were causing damage to the road, kerb and gutter or central median. The only option for the long term benefit was to remove the trees and replace with a more suitable species.”

A number of alternative options were explored in attempt to retain each tree, Mr Milne said.

“However, ultimately, these species of tree were not suitable to the location and the best long term outcome is to replace them with a more appropriate species,” he advised.

Mr Milne added it was hard to predict when the projects would be fully completed, as wet weather was causing a number of delays. But it is hoped works will commence in the coming months.
Trees of Us were engaged to undertake the tree removals. Tree pruning that has also taken place in Condobolin was undertaken by Asplundh, who is a contractor working for Essential Energy.

The tree contractor is also removing a number of dead/dying trees around Condobolin, Lake Cargelligo and Tottenham. The contractor will be here removing these dead/dying trees to not only improve the visual appearance of the street scape, but improve safety.

“All trees that are removed will be replaced with a more suitable species,” Mr Milne disclosed.

“I am very conscious of the need for trees throughout the urban area. The benefit of shade, amenity and bird habitat is well acknowledged in the process of removing any tree. But this needs to be considered with public safety and impact on infrastructure. We need the right tree in the right place. Whilst the removal of these trees is not ideal, in the long term there will be a better outcome.”