“Awesome moment”
“THIS is an awesome moment for Leongatha,” said Thelma Arnup last Friday, greeting the successful relocation of the Illawarra Flame Tree on the Aldi construction site in Leongatha.
“The town is known for its trees and we have lost so many lately, it is fabulous to see one saved.
“And I am so impressed with Aldi,”
When Aldi’s plans were made public in April 2013, Mrs Arnup said she was ready to handcuff herself to the 100 year old tree to save it.
So an air of excitement pervaded the long awaited relocation of the celebrity tree on Thursday to its new home, 30 metres away.
Camera touting locals lined the fences and as the operation began it was clear this was not a simple lift and drop side show, but a highly complex operation that would, and did, take most of the day.
With preparations complete, the lift began at 10.30am and the tree, no doubt with a sigh of relief, was settled into its new bed at 3.30pm.
The heavens shone overnight with the first persistent rain in many weeks as if to water the tree in.
Arborculturalist Nicholas Rivett, in charge of the operation, said there were issues during the move, mainly to do with occupational health and safety.
“It isn’t easy to get straps under a tree of this size and there were adjustments needed throughout the move,” he said.
“A couple of stabilising ratchet straps which exceeded their working load broke with loud reports and onlookers thought it was the tree.
“Including the soil ball, the weight of the tree was 32 tonne, close to estimates.”
When Aldi’s plans for a supermarket on the site were made public in April 2013, support fell behind a group determined to save the Illawarra Flame Tree, indigenous to the sub tropical Illawarra region of NSW and the only specimen in Leongatha.
Aldi attracted widespread praise for its instant response: the tree would be saved.
Mrs Arnup says, “The day Aldi took over the site they rang me to tell me to get my group together, ‘We want a meeting.’”
High moment: the tree on the move. Tree enthusiast Richard Lester remarked, “I had no idea trees could fly!”
Glasses raised: from left, Thelma Arnup; Richard Lester; Nicholas Rivett, njr & associates, aboricultural and environmental consultants; and Peter Bateman from Arborzone, Total Tree Care, celebrate.
“In local terms this is bigger than man landing on the moon,” says Mr Lester, from day one part of the group who saved the tree.
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