Landmark tree given the chop

Workers remove a towering Blackbutt tree at Bulli Pass last week.

A PROMINENT tree removed from Bulli Pass last week could be saved from the wood heap in favour of a new home at Thirroul.

Wollongong City Council is working on plans that would see timber from the Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis) used within the new Thirroul community centre and library.

Tree maintenance coordinator Mark Cronin said the unusual idea to recycle the towering tree was something of a first for the council.

"Usually there is very little that can be used for anything other than woodchips," Mr Cronin said.

"But because of the size and prominence of this tree, hopefully there will be enough timber to keep the memory of the tree alive."

With construction of the community centre and library about to commence, Mr Cronin said he hoped pieces of the Blackbutt could be saved for things such as new furniture.

"The tree would essentially remain in its old neighbourhood, albeit in a very different form," he said.

With the help of a crane, workers removed the giant Eucalyptus at the corner of Bulli Pass and Pass Avenue on August 17.

The council's regular monitoring revealed the tree had begun to pose a risk to surrounding property, traffic and pedestrians. Mr Cronin said the tree had a history of losing limbs even dropping branches into a nearby backyard.

He said a range of natural and human elements had taken their toll on the tree's health.

"Over its lifespan there has been significant changes to surrounding infrastructure Bulli Pass has been widened and there's been more than one drought," Mr Cronin said.

"It had been in decline for some time and just reached the point of no return."

Standing about 40 metres high, the tree proved quite a challenge to remove.

Mr Cronin said his team had spent months planning the operation, which required dropping powerlines and closing a lane of traffic on Bulli Pass.

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