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Lake trees axed

BY ANELIA BLACKIE
Email: anelia@tbw.com.au
WHILE the roar of chainsaws echoed
around Valley Lake yesterday, global
warming activist Dr Catherine Pye
peacefully protested the chopping
down of gigantic pine trees.
Dr Pye hung placards with the
words “Save Us” around the base of
some trees and asked walkers and
bicycle riders along the footpath
behind the old hospital to sign a
petition which she planned to take to
the Mount Gambier City Council.
“I think it is terrible that council
has cut down the big old pine trees
at the northern end of nurses land-
ing near the old hospital,” Dr Pye
said.
“These were big, beautiful and
unique species of pine trees which
enhanced the beauty of walking
around the Valley Lake.
“These trees were old and can
never be replaced in a lifetime. They
might not be native, but they are
still attractive and environmentally
useful.”
However, council operational
services director Daryl Sexton said
the clearing of olive and pine trees
around the lake would continue.
“Those pine trees are not indig-
enous and they grow bigger and
bigger until they ultimately become
a risk,” Mr Sexton said.
“They are invasive, of no historical
significance and should be removed.
Those trees are not rare, but volcanic
craters are.”
Mr Sexton said the removal of
the trees had been council’s view
for many years and for the past four
or five years a private company had
been contracted for 20 to 30 days a
year to chop down the trees.
“This year $50,000 has been allo-
cated for the job,” he said. pDr Catherine Pye protests the chopping down of old pine trees around the Valley Lake. Picture: ANELIA BLACKIE.

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