Ararat Rural City Council will commence community consultation and engagement on the Norfolk Island pine trees on Barkly Street, Ararat, following a Council resolution at the 27 February 2024 meeting. Council staff will ascertain the historical significance of the trees and seek community input to identify suitable replacements for when the existing Norfolk Island pine trees reach their end of life.
Norfolk Island pine trees (Araucaria heterophylla) are native to Norfolk Island where the annual average rainfall is 1312mm. The highest daily average temperature ever recorded on Norfolk Island was 28.4C on 11th Feb 1996 and the lowest daily average temperature ever recorded was 6.2C on 29th July 1953. For comparison, Ararat has an annual average rainfall of 586.5mm, the highest daily average temperature ever recorded was 44.7C on 7 Feb 2009 and lowest daily average temperature ever recorded was 4.7C on 31 May 1977. (Bureau of Meteorology). Due to the changing climate, increasing temperatures and reducing rainfall, the climate conditions in Ararat may have become increasingly less favourable for the Norfolk Island pine trees, making them more susceptible to disease and stress.
Trees and gardens form an essential part of the urban and rural landscape. The Norfolk Island pine trees are an evergreen conifer, which means they should have their green leaves all year round, however the current state of the trees can be described as bare and in poor to very poor condition. Trees that are in poor condition or have died may pose a safety risk to the public.
Quotes from Dr Tim Harrison, CEO of Ararat Rural City Council:
“The Ararat Rural City takes pride in our parks and gardens, and Norfolk Island pine trees have been an iconic feature at the western gateway to the Ararat CBD for locals and visitors alike.”
We lament that they have succumbed to heat stress, disease or other stressors. It will take a long time for replacement trees to achieve the same magnificence of the Norfolk Island pine trees at their peak.
The Council are acting proactively to engage with the local community to identify what is valued in terms of the neighbourhood and gateway amenity on this key corridor, as well as what could thrive in our environmental conditions over the long term.”
For further information or to provide input, go to the Engage Ararat website: https://engage.ararat.vic.gov.au.
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