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Tree removals in Centennial Park – May-June 2022

Published on 13 May 2022
14 large trees, assessed by Centennial Parklands Senior arborists and corrobrated by independent arborists, as being at the end of their life, will be removed from the eastern and western sides of Centennial Park over the next three weeks. The removals are a necessary part of our careful management of an over-mature and iconic tree avenue with a large proportion in terminal decline, and thereby improving safety for park visitors. A new tree of the same species, grown especially for us, will be planted in place of the removed trees in the following weeks, to ensure the Park continues to be one of Sydney’s best loved and healthy green spaces.
 
Some of the trees being removed are large fig trees on Grand Drive and these trees will be removed via the Horse Track to minimise disruption to pedestrians, motorists and cyclists. In other areas there will be disruption and partial road closures which will be clearly signposted to maintain access to Centennial Park. We ask visitors to take extra care and follow all detours in place. Works will be undertaken between 7am and 3pm, except on 19 May at McKay fields, where it will start at 9.30am to reduce disruption during the Park’s busiest visitation times.  
 
The timeline of upcoming tree removals and impacts are detailed below:
3 Port Jackson figs will be removed, via the Horse Track on Grand Drive near Musgrave Avenue. Works will take two to three days to complete, and visitors can expect to hear machinery noise. Pedestrian and vehicle control will be in place. The Horse Track will be partially closed during this time, with diversions in place for riders.
 
1 Port Jackson fig will be removed in one day, using the driveway at McKay fields. Access will be maintained to the field with detours in place for pedestrians and vehicles will need to slow down in the area.  
2 Port Jackson figs will be removed, via Musgrave Avenue (just to the east of the access gate). Works will take two  to three days to complete, and visitors can expect to hear machinery noise. Pedestrian and vehicle control will be in place.
3 Port Jackson figs will be removed, via the Horse Track which will be partially closed for up to three days. Machinery noise will be audible and pedestrian and vehicle detours will be in place. Horse riders will need to continue straight on the Horse Track and go all the way around Grand Drive to access the Equestrian Grounds.
3 Port Jackson figs will be removed, over three days, via the Horse Track on Grand Drive, which will be partially closed for the duration of works. Horse riders will need to turn back at the works but will be able to access the Equestrian Grounds by turning right onto the Horse Track after entering the gates.
1 Cupressus will be removed, for up to two days, at the Rose Garden. A section of the Horse Track will be closed to accommodate the works. Associated noise will be audible in the area and traffic management will be in place.
Published on 13 May 2022

Location of trees to be removed

Map of the location of the trees to be removed
 

Tree replacement strategy

Trees have been propagated from exceptional specimens at UNSW and grown for 4 years off-site specially for Grand Drive.
 
Centennial Parklands receive over 30 million visits annually so public safety is our top priority. The tree population of Centennial Parklands is now over 16,000 with 234 different species.
 
As trees decline and reach the end of their life, the risk of branch failure or a tree becoming structurally unsound increases and needs to be closely monitored and managed. Eventually a tree may need to be removed once other tree management strategies become insufficient for public safety or sustaining the health of a tree. Learn more about ‘Circle of (a tree) Life’
 
In the next 40 years, a large percentage of our tree population, especially those that are already mature or over-mature will need to be replaced due to their terminal decline. To combat this, we plant trees annually to succeed trees reaching the end of the lifelcycle. We aim to replace all trees removed due to age, as soon as possible as well as increasing the tree population each year to ensure that Centennial Parklands remains one of Sydney’s best loved and healthy green spaces. Find out more about our tree planting and maintenance program.