Council to Address Tree Risks in Merriwa Park
Published on 14 December 2023
The Rural City of Wangaratta has successfully secured appropriate planning approval to remove three trees in Merriwa Park. This decisive action to ensure public safety responds to the failures of four trees within the park over the past twelve months. Following a thorough risk assessment, it has been determined that three trees, identified as extreme risk, pose a significant danger to the community, and will be removed.
The initial risk assessment highlighted several trees within Merriwa Park as high risk, with particular attention given to ten red gum trees considered to be at an extreme risk level.
Council Officers then carried out risk reduction, this included significant pruning and tree maintenance. This preventative work positively impacted the final risk assessment which determined just three trees still requiring removal. The tree removal works are expected to be completed by the end of February 2024 and sections of the park will need to be closed to complete the works.
The removal process will be conducted with care and consideration for the surrounding environment. Additionally, Rural City of Wangaratta is committed to implementing a replanting program to ensure the ongoing health and beauty of Merriwa Park.
“A long-term strategic plan is being developed to continue replacing the mature trees as required. Community input will be sought on the plan’s development throughout 2024 with more information to come on this,” Said Marcus Goonan, Director Community & Infrastructure
Merriwa Park will be open for the enjoyment of our community following this work, and well into the future. Council will seek input from community members to decide how to best use the hardwood from the removed trees. The potential use of the harvested wood is endless: floorboards, park benches, picture frames, artworks, and so on. This conversation will be initiated in February 2024 on Rural City of Wangaratta’s community engagement portal Connect Wangaratta.