General News
12 December, 2025
Appeal to save fig tree
A WEEPING fig tree which has caused significant damage, including to the historic St John’s Anglican Church in the centre of Cairns, is to be axed despite the protests of environmentalists.
Protestors gathered outside the church last Sunday morning to raise the community’s attention to the tree’s plight.
Spokeswoman Dr Nicole Sleeman said the campaign raised “awareness of the number of trees that Cairns Regional Council was approving for removal across Cairns at an alarming rate. This is a health hazard”.
“We rely on trees to cool our streets in a heating climate and to protect us from heat-related harm. Only last week an ambulance was called for a tourist who collapsed from heat stroke in Lake Street opposite the church,” she said.
“The Tree Action Group (TAG) is calling for changes to CRC’s vegetation assessment and management process. It should be updated to recognise the value of established trees in reducing risks from heatwaves, improving local air quality and housing wildlife – like the Torres Strait pigeons who are nesting here.
“The petition opposing this the removal of this tree had over 200 signatures.”
Church rector Father Jeff Coop said council had approved the removal of the tree following independent advice confirming significant damage and safety risks being caused by the tree.
“With no safe viable alternatives to preserve the tree, we will move forward with the responsible solution that protects the community and neighbouring properties and remove the fig tree,” he said.
“Our parish will replant a suitable species of tree and create new gardens to restore shade and support local wildlife for the long term.”
A council spokesman said the tree’s removal followed detailed arborist and engineering assessments.
“Extensive investigations confirmed the tree cannot be viably retained due to progressive structural damage to the 1936 concrete boundary wall and entrance archway – which are both part of a designated place of local significance – as well as ongoing impacts on footpaths and driveways up to 48m away, stormwater infrastructure and NBN services,” he said. “Mitigation options, such as root barriers or major pruning, were assessed to be impractical.”
