Council looks to scrap 'risky' Vic Sq trees

An artist's impression of the revamped Victoria Square, which will be able to host events for up to 10,000 people and include new trees and pedestrian and cycle paths. Source: adelaidenow

THE City Council is set to back away from plans to plant only lemon scented gums in Victoria Square, following complaints about the risk of the natives dropping limbs.

Council staff are now proposing to plant 28 plane trees in rows either side of the planned event lawn in the northern half of the square, as part of its multi-million dollar upgrade.

Councillors will consider the change tonight.

More than 70 lemon scented gums would still be planted elsewhere in the square and the council insists they do not pose a higher safety risk than other species.

But a council report does say the risk posed by trees around the event lawn is higher because people are more likely to sit under them than trees closer to the edge of the square.

The report says the council has received several complaints about the choice of gums for the event lawn because they were "notorious for dropping limbs for no apparent reason and pose a safety hazard to the public".

"Others have stated that gum trees are messy and unattractive and therefore not appropriate for planting in the square."

The report says the council has consulted with local and interstate arborists and concluded there is "no scientific evidence" that lemon scented gums drop limbs more than other species, despite "anecdotal evidence and widespread public perception".

Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood had previously supported the plan for exclusively planting natives to give the square a uniform look.

But this week he said: "I'm not fussed what trees we have as long as we have as many as possible.

"Any trees will be managed with significant care, which does minimise that risk."

The report says falling limbs are a public safety risk with the potential to cause "asset damage, personal injury and/or death".

Risk would be minimised by planting healthy, structurally sound nursery stock, planting trees close together to reduce the size of their canopies and the weight of spreading branches, watering them in summer and expert pruning.

The plane trees would provide a "good design contrast" to the gums and "visually link with the plane trees along King William St", the report says.

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