Officials from the Government of Western Australia helped destroy the 800-year-old Bob Brown peppermint tree
The Western Australian government has admitted that it played a role in the destruction of the Bob Brown peppermint tree, believed to be around 800 years old, in the Ferguson Valley.
Last week, a tree stump was discovered by local tourism entrepreneur Peter Murphy, who wanted to proudly show the tree to a group of foreign visitors.
“I was absolutely devastated,” Murphy said.
“I happened to take some French tourists with me to show them the tree, as I usually do with visitors to the region, and when I discovered it, it simply no longer existed.
“Basically it was a tree stump in the ground.”
A local tourism entrepreneur was devastated when he found the tree only a stump. (Source: Peter Murphy)
Mr Murphy said it was not only a loss for the local community but also for future generations.
“Future generations will be absolutely horrified,” he said.
“The community is in mourning at the moment.”
Destruction “never intended”
The tree in Greater Wellington National Park, 180 kilometres south of Perth, was named after the former federal leader of the Greens, who visited the area in 1999.
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) has since confirmed that it has ordered work on the tree, but said it never intended to cut it down entirely.
The department said it was working to better understand the incident.
“The tree in question was well known … it was planned to be preserved as part of a planned day use area,” the spokesman said.
“Unfortunately, the condition of the tree had deteriorated.
“Over the past few months, large tree branches have fallen to the ground and posed a public safety hazard by obstructing an access road.”
The spokesman said the department had hired an arborist to remove the fallen branches and eliminate the hazard.
“DBCA met with the contractor on site prior to commencing work to determine the scope required,” the spokesman said.
“DBCA is working with the contractor to fully understand the situation.”
The state’s conservation agency confirmed it had sent an arborist to remove dangerous branches from the tree. (Source: Ministry of Biodiversity, Nature Conservation and Attractions)
It’s time to face reality
The tree’s namesake, Bob Brown, said he was “shocked” and “appalled” by the tree’s felling.
“It is an environmental crime,” he said.
“This tree stood there for many centuries and was home to many species of animals… and suddenly it was destroyed.
“If it poses a danger to people, then we keep people away from it.”
Bob Brown believes that those responsible for cutting down the tree must face the consequences. (ABC Southwest: Sam Bold)
He demanded that those responsible for the damage be held accountable.
“Those responsible must face the consequences,” Brown said.
“It is simply not enough to shrug your shoulders, keep the matter under wraps or hope that everything will go away on its own.
“This peppermint tree basically had maybe two or three hundred years left in it.”
