The University of New England (UNE) is currently destroying some of its greatest assets. These are the hollow-bearing trees, habitat for gliders, parrots and koalas. Planning and implementation of tree removal has been kept secret.
From 8 January 2018, contractors started removing the first of 78 trees from the UNE campus. During the week, it became apparent that crucial habitat trees were being cut down. The trees and the animals that use them have been part of a beautiful landscape for staff, students and visitors to the campus for over 60 years. These trees are thought to be hundreds of years old.
There are alternatives to tree removal. Most of the remnant trees on campus could be retained and rendered safe by a combination of signage, exclusion-zones under tree canopies, and moving bus stops, carparks, park benches and other points of congregation away from potential danger. These alternatives to tree removal have been used at other universities in Australia.
