Tree Audit Tintinara Area School.

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1 Tree Audit Tintinara Area School. Errin Deckers. S k y w o r k T r e e & S t u m p C o n t r a c t o r s K i n g s t o n a v e N a r a c o o r t e S. A P o b o x N a r a c o o r t e O f f i c e M e - m a i l : a d m i s k y w o r k. c o m. a u

2 The purpose of this report is to identify positional impacts this tree may have on the property and persons in the vicinity. The opinions and recommendations are based on a visual inspection from the ground with no increment boring to identify if internal decay was present Tree Assessment: Visual Ground Inspection. Property owner: Tintinara Area School. Date. 19/09/14. Tree : 1. Location: Front of school, Wendt Tce Name/Botanical: Eucalyptus camaldulensis ssp. Common: Red gum. Current Condition: Good condition for its size and age. Visible symptoms: Minor canker in the upper forks and unions. Life span: 10 yrs + Risk rating: High due to the position of the tree being alongside a major building and entrance of the school. Comments: This tree is of good health, the tree is slightly out of balance due to constant power line pruning on the road side. The tree is also lacking in native mulch in the trees T.P.Z, ( tree protection zone ) Recommendations : The first recommendation is to perform an aerial inspection over the whole tree to inspect for any hollow or cavities in the tree. This will determine the the structural stability of the upper limbs. The second recommendation is to rebalance the tree. This will be the removal of 1 x lower limb growing toward the building on the eastern side and the pruning of upper limbs on the same side to rebalance the tree after the constant power line pruning. Once the eastern side of the tree is rebalanced the final recommendation is to reduce the trees sail canopy. This will required the tree to have the top third removed. Once this is removed the tree will catch less wind and in turn this will reduce the weight and stress placed on these limbs on those windy days. T.P.Z : This is the trees protection zone. This area is under the tree it is also called the drip zone. This area is under the trees canopy and it is where the trees feeder roots lie. This area requires native organic mulch for the tree to feed on. All green waste from the trees upper canopy will need to be wood chipped and spread out in the garden bed under the tree. The mulch will need to be approx. 100 to 200 mm thick and well watered for the material to break down into natural food for the tree.

3 On the photo above the two lower lines indicate 2 x limbs which require removal. The two upper curved lines indicate the pruning on the eastern side and also the Sail canopy reduction in the crown. All work performed on this tree will need to be by a qualified Arborist with a Minimum of level 3 in arboriculture and to the Australian standards as

4 Tree : 2 Location: Behind the Basketball court. Name/Botanical: Eucalyptus cladocalyx. Common: Sugar gum. Current Condition: Good condition. Visible symptoms: Minor canker, dead wood of 100mm in diameter, heavy fruit on lower limbs. Life span: 5 yrs + Risk rating: High due to the area the tree stands in and due to limb failure risks ( heavy fruit ). Comments: This is a great tree and in good health. The tree only requires minor work to reduce the risk rating to a low. Recommendations: This tree is slightly out of balance and o lean toward the court. The also is carrying A large amount of fruit ( gum nuts ) this time of year. This makes the limbs extremely heavy and prone to failure. I would recommend on this tree to have weight reductions preformed on the large limb growing toward the courts and to also perform some fruit reductions over the whole tree to minimize the risk of limb failure. All work performed on this tree will need to be by a qualified Arborist with a Minimum of level 3 in arboriculture and to the Australian standards As Tree 2, Eucalyptus cladocalyx

5 Tree : 3 Location: Between the basketball court and the oval. Name/Botanical: Pinus halepensis ssp. Common: Allepo pine Current Condition: Average for its age to poor. Visible symptoms: Multi trunk union, die back area in the crown, long heavy lateral limbs. Life span: 5 yrs approx Risk rating: High due to the size of the tree and the high volume area it stands in. Comments: This is an extremely large tree. The tree is getting close to the end of its used by date. a large area of die back has already begun to form in the trees upper crown. This may be to the tree being under stress due to its age or due to the canker pathogen ( fungi ). There is also an area of included bark or fracture line present in the main fork of the tree. This is generally a weak spot in the trees structure and an area of fail. This type of tree has grown way too large for it to be deemed as safe. Weight reductions and sail canopy thinning are near impossible on this species of tree. Recommendations: My recommendation would be to remove this tree to ground level. Pruning Of this tree would only place it under great stress and as the tree is close to the end of its used by date it would more than likely die. The tree is also in a high volume area any type of limb failure or even pine cones falling from this height can be a high risk to student safety. I believe removal is the safest option and removal of the stump will be required to remove any trip hazards and to allow the area to have a new more student tree to be planted or shade sail erected.

6 This photo is of the large pine tree, tree 3. The red circle in this photo indicates a large area of die back in the trees upper crown. Also noted on this photo is the large heavy lateral limbs on the lower half of the tree. These limbs would need to be remove to lower the risk rating and once removed the tree would be to out of balance to stand. Removal of the whole is by far the safest option.

7 On this photo of tree 3 in the top left corner the circle points out the area of dead or missing canopy of the tree. The second circle ( green ) points the main fork union which is also of concern.

8 These two photos of tree 3 show both sides of the main fork / trunk union. The union has a slight line of included bark present. This is a weak point of the branch union and in most cases the fracture point. On the bottom photo you can even see a swollen area that has grown. This is also a point of concern and generally means there is a weak spot in the branch union.

9 Tree : 4 Location: Between the basketball court and the oval. Name/Botanical: Pinus halepensis ssp. Common: Allepo pine. Current Condition: Poor due to crown failure. Visible symptoms: Catastrophic crown failure. Poor trunk / branch union. Life span: 5 yrs approx Risk rating: High due to the size of the tree and the high volume area it stands in. Comments: This is an extremely large tree. the tree is getting close to the end of its used by date. A large area of the tree crown has already failed and has fallen out of the tree. This has left the remaining two sides to the crown exposed to the wind and extremely unstable. The remaining under story of this tree is full of cracked and broken limbs hanging in the tree. Also noted on this tree is another poor trunk union. This is where the tree has forked in to two. There is a swollen area on both sides of the fork and bark bleeding is also present. More than likely a pocket has formed in the fork its self. This would be an area where water and debris has collected. This will eventually rot and cause further limb failure. Recommendations: My recommendation would be to remove this tree to ground level. Pruning of this tree would only place it under great stress and as the tree is close to the end of its used by date it would more than likely die. The tree is also in a high volume area any type of further limb failure or even pine cones falling from this height is certainly a risk to student safety. I believe removal is the safest option and removal of the stump will be required to remove any trip hazards and to allow the area to have a new more student tree to be planted or shade sail erected.

10 On this photo of tree 4 the two red arrows point to the remaining two crowns left exposed to the wind. The yellow circle indicates the large area of crown that is missing due to catastrophic trunk / crown failure.

11 Tree : 5 Location: Behind the goal post on the western side Name/Botanical: Eucalyptus fasciculosa Common: Pink gum or hill gum. Current Condition: Good for its age. Visible symptoms: Dead wood, minor hollow with wild life present. Life span: 5yrs + Risk rating: Medium. Comments: This type of eucalyptus is a slow growing species. The tree will not grow any larger and on the day of inspection the tree was quiet stable. The tree also has a small hollow present on one of the major limbs. Wild life may be present in this cavity. Recommendations: Removal of all dead wood and minor rebalancing once the dead wood is removed. All work performed on this tree will need to be by a qualified Arborist with a Minimum of level 3 in arboriculture and to the Australian standards AS Tree 5 and the small cavity which contains wild life

12 Tree : 6 Location: Next to the spider man gym / sand pit. Name/Botanical: Eucalyptus fasciculosa Common: Pink gum or hill gum. Current Condition: Poor. Visible symptoms: Die back, pale yellow foliage, epicormic growth. Life span: 2yrs - Risk rating: High. Comments: This tree is in decline and showing all signs of being stressed. The tree will not And will be dead in the next few years. Limb failure due to this is high. Recommendations: Removal to ground level and removal of the stump to prevent regrowth and to remove any trip hazards. The red arrow points to tree 6 which is in the back ground behind the tank next to the sand pit play area.

13 Tree : 7 Location: Next to the toilet block. Name/Botanical: Eucalyptus cladocalyx. Common: Sugar gum. Current Condition: Good condition. Visible symptoms: Minor canker, dead wood of 100mm in diameter, heavy fruit on most of the limbs. Life span: 5 yrs + Risk rating: High due to the area the tree stands in and due to limb failure risks ( heavy fruit ). Comments: This is a great tree and in good health. The tree only requires minor work to reduce the risk rating to a low. Recommendations: This tree requires the removal of 1 x lower limb.the tree also is carrying A large amount of fruit ( gum nuts ) this time of year. This makes the limbs extremely heavy and prone to failure. I would recommend on this tree to have weight reductions / fruit reductions of approximately 20 % to reduce the limb failure rating. All work performed on this tree will need to be by a qualified Arborist with a Minimum of level 3 in arboriculture and to the Australian standards As

14 Tree : 8 Location: Next to the Cricket nets. Name/Botanical: Eucalyptus sideroxylon. Common: Iron bark. Current Condition: Good health. Visible symptoms: Minor dieback in crown & poor trunk union ( bifurcation ) Life span: 5 yrs + Risk rating: High due to the tree growing over the cricket nets. Comments: The under story of this tree is in good health and worth keeping. Recommendations: My recommendation for this tree is tohave the crown of the tree removed to just below in bifurcation ( fork ) in the trunk. The remaining tree ( under story ) can be shaped to form a smaller tree with a low risk rating. All work performed on this tree will need to be by a qualified Arborist with a Minimum of level 3 in arboriculture and to the Australian standards AS

15 Tree : 9, 10, 11 Location: In front of the gym. Name/Botanical: Eucalyptus cladocalyx. Common: Sugar gum. Current Condition: 9 poor, 10 average, 11 poor. Visible symptoms: Tree 9, poor formation heavy lower lateral limb with no places to prune the tree to Australian standards. Tree 10, good average condition Tree 11, poor health, pale yellow foliage, epicormic growth. Life span: T 1, and t 3, less the 2yrs. T 2 5 trs + Risk rating: High due to the area the tree stands in and due to limb failure risks. Comments: Tree 9, has tiger tailed libs which are long thin with a heavy end. These types of Limbs have no point of growth to prune back to or preform a weight reduction. The inner canopy of this tree is only stress growth known as epicormic growth. As epicormic growth as poor points of contact an d as it grows larger it can and will fail without warning. Tree 10, This tree is in reasonable condition and weight reductions can be performed to lower the risk rating. Tree 12. This tree is in poor health and will not recover. The is on a lean over the hall and requires major pruning. Pruning of this extent will only kill the tree. Recommendations: Tree 9, removal to ground level and stump removal. Tree 10, arborist prune of the upper canopy down to the inner canopy, or remove Tree 11, removal to ground level and stump removal. Overall option: As an arborist my overall option would be to remove all three trees. Even though Tree 10 is maintainable at this stage. A Eucalyptus cladocalyx can grow to 80 ft tall with a canopy diameter of about the same. Due to the tree / trees being planted so close to the hall ( gym ) the tree and its Root system will certainly cause foundation issues later. The other issue is if the hall is a bushfire retreat for the students as the tree is within the 20 meter exclusion zone. The area maybe better suited for shade sails for the pool or replanted with a better species of tree All work performed on this tree will need to be by a qualified Arborist with a Minimum of level 3 in arboriculture and to the Australian standards AS

16 T 9 T 10 T 11 Top, trees 9, 10,, 11 Bottom photo, you can see the close proximity of the trees to the hall ( 3 metres )

17 Tree : 12. Location: Sheep yards. Name/Botanical: Corymbia maculata Common: Spotted gum. Current Condition: Good health. Visible symptoms: Bifurcation in the main stem. Life span: 2 yrs Risk rating: High due to the unstable bifurcation. Comments: All though this tree is not in a high volume area the tree is unrepairable and unstable. This tree would best be removed while it is still young. Recommendations : Removal to ground level is required and the removal of the stump. Tree 12 and he swollen area which can and will fail with out warning.

18 Tree : 13 Location: Behind the a hall. Name/Botanical: Eucalyptus leucoxylon. Common: S.A blue gum. Current Condition: Poor condition. Visible symptoms: Borer, poor tree pruning in the past. Life span: - 2 yrs Risk rating: High due to poor formation, bush fire & a water pump under the tree. Comments: This tree will cause foundation issues. The tree is also located next to the fire pump. Recommendations : As this tree is un repairable and will always cause issues with the hall I would recommend the tree be removed to ground level. I also recommend the removal of the stump to prevent regrowth from forming. Tree 13.

19 Tree : 14 & 15. Location: Behind the a hall along the oval Name/Botanical: Eucalyptus leucoxylon. Common: S.A blue gum. Current Condition: Average condition. Visible symptoms: Borer, Life span: - 2 yrs Risk rating: High due to poor formation and heavy limb. Comments: Both trees have large heavy limbs, tree 14 has 1 x large limb that is growing toward the hall. Tree 15 also has a large heavy limb growing out over the oval. This limb has a section of decay mid stem. Recommendations : Both trees 14 and 15 require limb removal as per the photos supplied. All work performed on this tree will need to be by a qualified Arborist with a Minimum of level 3 in arboriculture and to the Australian standards As

20 Tree : 16 Location: Turn around area next to the oval entrance. Name/Botanical: Eucalyptus ssp. Common: Gum tree. Current Condition: Poor. Visible symptoms: Borer, bleeding bark, out of balance and uprooting. Life span: -2 yrs. Risk rating: High due to the area the tree stands in and leaning over the oval seat. Comments: This tree is also unrepairable and in poor condition. the tree will always pose a high risk and would best be removed. Recommendations : I would recommend that this tree should be removed to ground level and Removal of the stump to remove any regrowth and to prevent any trip hazards Tree 16

21 Tree : 17 Location: By the fire water tank. Name/Botanical: Eucalyptus camaldulensis. Common: Red gum. Current Condition: Good health, poor structure. Visible symptoms: Bifurcation in the main trunk ( fork ) Life span: 2 yrs or until trunk fails. Risk rating: High due to the unpredictability of the main trunk fork. Comments: This tree is unrepairable, the tree stands over the schools fire water tank and will fail in time. Recommendations : Removal to ground level and removal of the stump to remove any trip hazards and to prevent regrowth from forming. Tree 17 The bifurcation

22 Tree : 18 Location: Behind building 14 / 15 Name/Botanical: N/A Common: Dead. Current Condition: Dead. Visible symptoms: Dead Life span: Nil Risk rating: High. Comments: This tree, limbs or trunk can fail at any time. Recommendations : Removal asap to ground level. Tree 18

23 Tree : 19 & 20 Location: Behind buildings 14 & 15. Name/Botanical: Pinus halepensis Common: Aleppo pine Current Condition: Good. Visible symptoms: Nill Life span: 5 yrs + Risk rating: Low. Comments: These two trees are in great health and provide good shade. My only concerns is there position. The trees are only fifteen meters from a school building which timber buildings With a nature park ( scrub ) on the other side of the two pines they would or could pose a fire risk. Recommendations : Leave the trees at this stage. Talk to B.M.F.S and school on their views on There bush fire management plan. Reassess the trees once spoken to B.M.F.S Trees 19 & 20 Aleppo pines pose a fire risk,

24 Tree : 21 Location: Behind building 14 & 15. Name/Botanical: Eucalyptus leucoxylon megalocarpa ssp Common: S.A blue gum. Current Condition: Good for its age and size. Visible symptoms: lateral limbs growing toward the building. Life span: 5 yrs + Risk rating: Medium at this stage. Comments: This tree has been pruned several times to prevent the limbs from growing out and over the building. Recommendations : Prune the tree back from the building to give a minimum of 5 metres clearance. All work performed on this tree will need to be by a qualified Arborist with a Minimum of level 3 in arboriculture and to the Australian standards AS Tree 21 requires minor pruning to prevent the tree growing over the building and ventilation pipe

25 Tree : 22 Location: Behind building 15. Name/Botanical: Eucalyptus leucoxylon megalocarpa ssp Common: S.A blue gum. Current Condition: Good for its age and size. Visible symptoms: lateral limbs growing toward the building. Life span: 5 yrs + Risk rating: Medium at this stage. Comments: This tree has been pruned several times to prevent the limbs from growing out and over the building. Recommendations : Prune the tree back from the building to give a minimum of 5 metres clearance. All work performed on this tree will need to be by a qualified Arborist with a Minimum of level 3 in arboriculture and to the Australian standards AS Tree 22 requires the same works as tree 21

26 Tree : 23 Location: Corner of play area. Name/Botanical: Eucalyptus leucoxylon ssp Common: S.A blue gum. Current Condition: Poor condition. Visible symptoms: Die back over the whole tree, minimal growth, dead wood. Life span: - 2 yrs. Risk rating: High due to the health of the tree and the position it stands in. Comments: This tree will be dead in the next year. It stands in the playground area and poses A risk to student safety. Recommendations : Removal to ground level is required for this tree. Removal of the stump is Will be required to prevent regrowth from forming. Tree 23 requires removal

27 Tree : 24 Location: Playground area. Name/Botanical: Eucalyptus ssp. Common: Gum tree. Current Condition: Average condition for its age and size Visible symptoms: Epicormic growth,minor die back, heavy lateral limb over play area. Life span: - 5yrs Risk rating: Medium Comments: Minor pruning will lower the risk rating. Recommendations : Removal of the large low limb hanging over the play equipment. All work performed on this tree will need to be by a qualified Arborist with a minimum of level 3 in arboriculture and to the Australian standards AS Tree 24 requires 2 x low limb removals over the play area.

28 Tree : 25 Location: Grass area playground area. Name/Botanical: Eucalyptus ssp. Common: Gum tree. Current Condition: Average condition for its age and size Visible symptoms: Epicormic growth, major die back, infections in all limbs. Life span: - 2yrs Risk rating: High. Comments: This tree is in poor health and has a form of infection. The tree is unrepairable And will die in the next few years. Recommendations : Removal of this tree to ground level is required as it poses a high risk. Removal of the stump is also required.

29 On both photos of tree 25 the infections and die back is quiet visible.

30 Tree : 26 Location: Along the front fence next to the swing set. Name/Botanical: Eucalyptus leucoxylon ssp. Common: S.A blue gum. Current Condition: Average. Visible symptoms: Active borer. Dead wood. Broken limbs hanging, rubbing branches. Life span: Will depend on the borer treatment. Risk rating: High due to the hanging limbs and dead wood. Comments: This tree has active borer which is worth treating and with some minor maintenance this tree can be saved and also have the risk rating lowered. Recommendations : Removal of the dead hanging branch, removal of any cross rubbing branches. Have the tree treated for bore rand reassess the tree in 12 to 18 months. All work performed on this tree will need to be by a qualified Arborist with a minimum of level 3 in arboriculture and to the Australian standards AS Tree 26, which is along the front fence

31 Top left,in this photo the infection from the borer is quiet visible. this will eventually kill the tree if not treated. Bottom right. In this photo the arrow points to the hanging limb. The circle indicates the area of rubbing branches.

32 Tree : 27 Location: Centre of play area Name/Botanical: Eucalyptus leucoxylon ssp Common: S.A blue gum. Current Condition: Poor condition. Visible symptoms: Gall wasp, minor die back, minor epicormic growth, dead hanging wood, cross rubbing branches. Life span: 5 yrs. Risk rating: High / medium due to the hanging branches, dead wood and the position of the tree in the playground. Comments: this tree only requires basic maintenance to lower the risk rating and to stop and try and prevent the tree falling into decline. Recommendations : This tree requires the removal of all dead and hanging wood. The tree also can under go minor weight reductions of approximately 15 % on all major limbs or to The area of the foliage that contains the gall wasp larva. The final recommendation is native mulch to be spread out in the trees ( T.P.Z ) or root area to supply the tree with natural organic food.. All work performed on this tree will need to be by a qualified Arborist with a minimum of level 3 in arboriculture and to the Australian standards AS Tree 27

33 Top right. In this photo you can see one of the many hanging limbs Bottom left. In this photo you can see the gall wasp Larva in the tree foliage. Bottom right. One of the many cross rubbing branches.

34 Tree : 28. Location: In the playground next to the tunnels. Name/Botanical: Eucalyptus ssp. Common: S.A gum. Current Condition: Average but is showing signs of stress. Visible symptoms: Pale foliage. Life span: Will need monitoring. Risk rating: Medium. Comments: This tree will need monitoring in 12 to 18 mths. Recommendations : the removal of one minor limb with a bark infection. the tree will also need native mulch to be spread out under the trees T.P.Z or root zone. This will give plenty or organic matter to feed on to try and prevent the tree falling into decline. All work performed on this tree will need to be by a qualified Arborist with a minimum of level 3 in arboriculture and to the Australian standards AS Tree 28. the red circle shows the point of infection that needs to be removed.

35 Note: The advice given here is based on the observations made of the tree(s) at the time and does not constitute a guarantee of any kind as to the future safety, health or performance of the tree(s).

36 SIGNIFICANT TREE LEGISLATION The following points are made in relation to the principles of development control under the significant tree legislation:- Principles of Development Control Does the tree make an important contribution to the character or amenity of the local area? N/A Is the tree indigenous to the local area and species listed under the National Parks and Wild Life Act as a rare or endangered species? No. Does the tree represent an important habitat for the native fauna? No. Is the tree part of a wildlife corridor or a remnant area for the native vegetation? No. Is the tree important to the maintenance of biodiversity in the local area? No. Is this development able to be undertaken with minimum adverse effect on the health of a significant tree? N/A Is the tree diseased and its life expectancy short? Yes, several. Does the tree represent an unacceptable risk to public or private safety? Yes all trees rated at a high to medium risk. Is the tree within 20 metres of a residential, tourist accommodation or habitable building and is it a bushfire hazard within a Bushfire Prone Area? Yes trees 19 and 20 are of concern Is the tree shown to be causing or threatening to cause substantial damage to a building or structure of value? Yes several trees in the report.

37 It is demonstrated that all reasonable alternative development options and design solutions have been considered to prevent substantial tree-damaging activity occurring. N/A Does the development involve ground work activities such as excavation, filling and sealing of surrounding surfaces (whether such work takes place in the site of a significant tree or otherwise) that are likely to adversely affect the aesthetic appearance, health and integrity of the significant tree, including its root system? N/A Is the land division or development likely to result in substantial tree-damaging activity occurring to a significant tree? N/A Consultants Liability and Limitations All tree assessments are visual inspections and comment on the tree species, that can be seen, touched or inferred from the ground and covers what could reasonably be assessed and available to the assessor at the time of inspection. The Tree Audit Resister (TAR) and recommendations made in this report associated with the project are made in good faith on the basis of the information available to the consultant at the time of the inspection; therefore the author accepts no liability for any recommendations made. The inspection period to which the report applies is two months from the date of the report. Achievement of objectives set out in such reports will depend among other things on the actions of the client, contractor(s), council, environment and the tree(s), over which the consultant has no control before, during and after the audit has been conducted. Information contained in this report covers only the tree(s) that were examined and reflects the condition of the tree(s) at the time of inspection. There is no warranty or guarantee, expressed or implied; that problems or deficiencies of the subject tree(s) may not arise in the future. The author remains the sole beneficiary of this report until due payment is made to the author. If you require any further clarification or information, please contact me on the number provided.

38 INFORMATION The following information is generic and not specific to the site, however it is relevant and forms the basis for making decisions in relation to this tree. Many of the issues associated with the tree is included below. INFORMATION Included Bark Included bark unions are known as bifurcations and are caused as a result of steep V crotched limbs where the wood of the individual limbs does not knit together and the limbs, although touching, are completely separate structurally. This type of growth is highly unstable and prone to collapse without warning. Included bark occurs where similar size branches and/or trunks form a tight V-crotch and as the branches increase in size, they push against each other without forming a bond between the wood of the two parts. As a result the formation of the Angels Wings occurs to try and give the limbs additional strength and stability. Unfortunately this is only a short-term solution and the continual expansion of the limbs as they grow slowly forces them apart to the point of failure. When dissected, the internal parts of the fork always contain a split of at least equal length. T.P.Z Is the trees protection zone. This area is under an approximately the size of the trees canopy or the trees drip zone. This is the area of the trees root system and more importantly the area of the trees feeding roots. This area should be protected at all times. This area of root zone is best kept moist with native mulch from the same or similar spiecies of tree. this mulch will eventually compost down into organic matter for the tree to feed on. this area should also be kept free from soil compactation. or and excavation. or more more advice on this area of trees health and stability contact a qualified arborist.