One of Byron Bay beachfront’s historic Norfolk Island pine trees will be trimmed from the top after it was found to have borers eating it out.
The tree near the Byron Bay Surf Club was originally damaged during last November’s hail storm, which took its toll on the majestic rows of pines along the esplanade in Apex Park and on Shirley Street.
Byron Shire Council’s parks superintendent, Andy Erskine, said staff had been monitoring the trees since the storm and in January an independent arborist was tasked to inspect the trees.
The arborist found that the damage was consistent with hail damage, with foliage being knocked off the trees and soft-tissue damage on young branches.
But Mr Erskine said new shoots had started to appear so staff applied liquid fertiliser and a soil-wetting agent to encourage further new growth.
‘Unfortunately, during the tree inspections, it was found that one tree near the Byron Bay Surf Club has borers in the top of the tree, causing part of the tree to die, and it won’t repair itself,’ he said.
In about two to three weeks’ time, Council will remove the damaged top of the Apex Park tree by five to 10 metres back to sound timber.
The trees will continue to be fertilised and monitored for further deterioration or new growth.
Mr Erskine said the trees are inspected every two to three years to monitor their health.
