Cypress replanted with care

A NEW Monterey cypress tree has been planted in Lorne, replacing an original tall tree that had stood for many decades.

The sampling of the same species has taken its place on Cypress Avenue, filing the space left by a large tree which was removed due to safety concerns.

Arborists confirmed in June that the previous tree was high risk of suddenly falling due to internal decay.

With no safe way to treat or support the tree, it was removed, a tough call which prioritised the safety of pedestrians, traffic and the nearby playground users.

The small new tree is now beginning to take root and will grow into the same kind of presence as the tree before it.

“The original cypress had become part of the local identity, so we knew how important it was to replant with care, and to continue the story of trees in this area,” a spokesperson from the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority said.

The mulch from the old tree will be reused in local conservation works along the coast. The authority hopes this is a subtle way the old giant can give back to the landscape that sustained it for so many years.