Well-known cypress tree removed due to safety concerns

A SIGNIFICANT cypress tree located in the town of St Leonards has been removed due to ongoing safety concerns.

Crown Land manager Bellarine Bayside announced last week the large cypress tree would be removed from the town’s foreshore from Monday, following a visit to the structure as part of its annual inspection program.

“Our annual inspection program and targeted follow ups after storms identified major concerns for the large cypress tree that is currently taped off in St Leonards” Bellarine Bayside said in a statement.

“The inspections revealed cracking through the trunk that is considered to have a significant effect on the structural integrity of the tree.

“Along with the age of the tree and expected lifespan, it has been determined that we can no longer successfully manage the health of the tree or the level of risk that it poses to the community.”

The removal comes at an important time of the year, where thousands of visitors will soon descend on the northern Bellarine for the summer holidays.

Bellarine Bayside asks the community to continue to stay out of the exclusion area until works are completed and the area is officially reopened to the public.

“Trees are an important part of the landscape providing connections to our past, shade, amenity and habitat,” the statement said.

“We are actively managing and enhancing trees and tree cover across the coastline which also involves managing the risks they pose to people that use these areas.”