LARGE trees have been felled in a council reserve as part of what the organisation says is a “reinvigoration” project.
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Residents contacted the Post last Wednesday as contractors went to work on the Lisgar St reserve.
They cleared a large section around a waterway between Combermere and Lansdowne Streets.
The extent of the clearing, which included several large and living trees, surprised some.
One woman told the Post she enjoyed the variety of habitat in the area and feared the effect that clearing would have on bird and animal life.
But the council says clearing the waterways and cleaning up the reserves to make them more usable for the community is a major project in its 2015/16 budget.
“One of those areas identified was the Lisgar Street Reserve, in particular between Combermere Street and Lansdowne St,” a spokesman said.
“Over a number of years the reserve and waterway has become overgrown; this has meant that it is not able to be fully utilised by our community.”
Contractors have removed all willow trees, cleared blackberries, privet, claret ash, creepers, hawthorn and other scrub from the area. Anything dubbed nonnative was cleared.
Several tree branches had fallen during high wind, blocking the creek.
Large gum trees on the western side of the reserve were spared. Resident Gary Bech, who walks through the area daily, said he was pleased to see some of the reserve cleaned up.
“It does get windy and trees fall over,” he said.
“This will free things up a bit and improve the (creek) flow and reduce the insects.
“But it’s a shame they’re cutting so much.”
The council spokesman did not comment further on why the larger trees were felled. Council plans to landscape and re-grass the reserve.
“This is all part of (our) drive to make this an attractive city that our community can easily enjoy,” the spokesman said.