A bitter fight has erupted on a quiet Tasmanian street, with residents warning a council plan to cut down 25 towering historic elms could leave them poorer, hotter and staring at a far less attractive neighbourhood.
The mature trees, which have lined Risby Street in Ulverstone, on the northern coast of Tasmania, for more than 80 years, are due to be removed this month as part of a Central Coast Council road renewal project, sparking outrage from locals who say the loss of the leafy canopy could drag down property values and strip the street of one of its biggest drawcards.
According to realestate.com.au, homes in the tree-lined suburb sell for around $635,000, with house prices up 14.4 per cent compared to this time last year.
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Homeowner Susan said the trees were a major reason she chose to buy on the street and fears their removal will transform the area for the worse.
“I think it will harm property values,” she told Yahoo News.
“It’s October, and it’s already hot, and the trees provide an incredible amount of shade.
“Their removal will impact the aesthetics, and without the trees, it will be ugly and barren, with more concrete and asphalt.”
Central Coast Council wants to remove 25 towering historic elms from a popular street – but some locals aren’t happy.
The council plans to replace the elms with smaller crepe myrtles, but for some residents that is no substitute for the established canopy that has defined the street for decades.
And there is evidence to suggest their concerns are more than emotional.
Ray White chief economist Nerida Conisbee told Yahoo News that tree-lined streets were generally seen as more desirable and could add value to surrounding homes.
“It’s definitely the case that they do add value to properties,” she said.
“It’s a lot to do with liveability and appearance.”
Locals worry that removing the trees will impact property prices.
She said buyer demand over the past 20 years had increasingly favoured greener suburbs, alongside locations close to water and with good public transport.
“If you are on a street with really nice trees, it does make you feel a lot better about a suburb,” she said.
But not everyone in Ulverstone wants the elms saved.
Some residents have argued the ageing trees are causing more problems than they are worth, with complaints ranging from dropped leaves and disease to heavy pruning around powerlines and roots allegedly blocking sewer pipes.
At a Central Coast Council community information session in 2024, fewer than 15 per cent of attendees said they wanted the trees kept.
The removals form part of a broader “road infrastructure renewal project” that will also include upgrades to pavement, stormwater drainage, footpaths and kerbs.
Ulverstone home prices have jumped by 14.4 per cent over the past year – but locals say further prices increases could be jeopardised with the removal of the trees.
Still, the timing has inflamed tensions.
With council elections due at the end of the month, some residents and candidates are calling for the works to be put on ice until after the vote.
Council candidate Darren Briggs said pressing ahead now made little sense given the level of concern.
“When there’s so much community anxiety about this, it would be the obvious thing to do,” he said.
Another candidate, Glyn Williams, said he could see no “obvious physical reason” for the trees to be removed immediately.
“It seems to be about removing them before the council changes,” he said.
While he accepted the street had drainage and road problems, he said those issues should be able to be fixed without cutting down the mature elms.
Despite the backlash, the council has made clear it intends to press on.
“The project has been approved, funded and scheduled, with Council crews and resources allocated accordingly,” a spokesperson said.
“There are no plans to change the established works schedule.”