Hundreds of trees to be chopped down at beloved Perth park
At least 300 trees are set to be cleared from the Hyde Park islands as part of a blitz to eradicate the polyphagous shot-hole borer.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development on Wednesday said it was working with the City of Vincent to remove up to 300 host plants — including native and non-WA native trees — from the lake's two islands over the next four to six weeks.
DPIRD would not confirm how many infected trees had been removed since works began on May 19.
'The only WA native species on the Hyde Park islands are Melaleuca rhaphiophylla and Eucalyptus rudis,' a spokesperson told The West.
'Other species being removed include eastern states Casuarina spp. Melaleuca spp. and Eucalyptus spp. and non-native woody weeds including Erythrina x sykesii and Ficus sp.'
The PSHB — which is native to southeast Asia — is a small beetle which burrows into trees and infects them with a fungus that slowly kills them from the inside.
The only way to eradicate the beetle is to remove the infected trees. The only way to eradicate the beetle is to remove the infected trees. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian
'DPIRD is continuing to work in close collaboration with the City of Vincent to manage PSHB in Hyde Park, as part of the nationally funded and coordinated emergency bio-security response,' the spokesperson said.
'PSHB surveillance and management will continue in Hyde Park to protect the high value fig and London plane trees.'
Thirteen infested trees at Hyde Park have already been removed, with another 33 pruned to their limit.
A further 45 have been treated with insecticides as part of an ongoing chemical trial. Thirteen infested trees at Hyde Park have already been removed, with another 33 pruned to their limit. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian
City of Vincent mayor Alison Xamon said she was 'deeply saddened' to hear the beetle had burrowed its way onto the lake's islands.
She said the city would plant up to 4000 new plants and mature trees on the lake's islands.
'Losing the tree is the last thing anyone wants to see, but DPIRD have determined this precaution is necessary to stop the borer spreading to other healthy trees at the park,' Ms Xamon told The West.
'Following DPIRD's works, we will be acting quickly on our three-year restoration program which has been formed in partnership with industry experts. She said the city would plant up to 4000 new plants and mature trees on the lake's islands. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian
'About 4000 new plants, that will be resilient to the borer and climate change, will be planted on the islands this winter including mature trees.
'We previously restored the eastern island in 2012, which gives us confidence that our program will see the islands flourish again.'
It comes just days after the State Government announced local councils could apply for the first round of its WA Tree Recovery Local Government Grant Program.
Councils can receive up to $1140 in funding for each tree that is removed as a result of PSHB, but the City of Vincent is yet to apply for funding.
PSHB has been confirmed in more than 80 suburbs across Perth since it was first detected in August 2021.
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