Trees vandalised

Nope, not done by anyone who knew what they were doing.

Simply sawn straight through, there was no scarf cut to control the direction of fall, those trees could have fallen in any direction or spun violently on the stump and speared back as they dropped.

Very lucky to have escaped injury or death, but maybe that is what was deserved.

Having said that, the tree nearest the table (pic.1)with the heart rotted out, was a huge danger with the every possibility of dropping branches or falling itself without any warning.
Mike

Trees that have started to pipe are valuable as they go on to develop nesting hollows and the like. In short, those trees are wanted and needed. Piped trunks are not necessarily dangerous and any tree surgeon has the skills to decide if dangerous or not. I live on acreage and have several trees much larger than that shown and have been assessed and retained. Two of the trees are over 150 years old and are only now becoming nesting and denning opportunities for the wildlife.

All NP rangers have a stated authority and work practice to ensure dangers to the public are identified and made safe. I am sure that any trees adjacent to a new picnic area would have been assessed. Mostly, any limbs that might become a problem in the short term are removed long before a trunk is cut.

Clearly, the vandals belong to that group who often "destroy what others come to enjoy". Don't know what the fines are now but upwards of $20000 at tree would be about right.

Iza

Iza.
Unfortunately I have to totally disagree with you.

Such a tree with that extent of termite/rot infested heart and be considered safe by a simple arborist examination is pure folly.

I have seen large trees like shown demolished by one wrap of detonated cordite to reveal a shell that could collapse at any time.

The risk, of course is all yours.

Maybe when camped along the Murray river you always seek the shade from the majestic river red gums.....

For the vandals......no any penalty is sufficient.....but if apprehended will be no more than a wrist slap anyway
Mike

You would also have to question the decision of NP to site a camp ground under 100 year old gums.
Dave.

Think N/P would have cleaned them up Terry but I think your on to something.
Dave.

Hi Terry. I think your right, can you imagine what would be said if a tree fell across a tent,?... then the blame gets shifted real quick!!!. What a funny mob we are!

Cheers Axle.

That's a pretty good thought Terryt.

From what I have seen of NP employees, that would be about their level of thinking and expertise.
Mike

Whenever I am in National Parks I see NP employees committed to the job they do. It might be firefighting, back-burning, clearing tracks, emptying bins, committed to the preservation of wildlife, I guess the list could go on…

For the most part, I see NP employees as people who enjoy being Out & About in the bush, like most of us.

I’ll tip my hat to the hard working NP employees.

Cheers, Baz – The Landy

.
Gotta agree Baz, although there are less-and-less bins to empty these days.

From the pics, it appears that the trees were cut with one sweep, requiring a 24" or 30" blade. Maybe not your average camper? But as Mike has said, there was no scarf to control the fall. No NP employee would fell a tree that way.