Most trees are also older than me, rejuvenating each year to look more glorious as they age. Importantly, they also provide shade. For this and many other reasons I dedicate this article to the all those who value trees and understand that what I am about to say ought to be understood by our experts. We seem to be excelling in the art of creating disabled trees. 

As a priority, we are protecting provision of our power by unfortunate and ultimately destructive hacking at one of the most important assets in our community.

Powerline through the back of the tree? Goodo, cut the back off the tree. In the middle of the tree … hack the middle out. Don’t look at the tree as a splendid, powerful thing that needs respect and care.

The need to avoid summer fire damage is understandable, but the current solution is short-sighted and ugly and tells me our priorities are blinding us to the sort of remediation that might well be introduced gradually. And it’s not like there aren’t other ways to behave. Anyone who has visited Europe will have seen how trees have been pollarded for centuries or pleached to provide safety and beauty. Another solution might include a program of underground powerlines, at least in public areas and areas where trees of a great age need to be protected. 

Each council might allocate an annual budget to the development of underground power supply around trees. Then we could be assured that, over time, our “tree disabling program” could be brought to an end. 

Year after year, the trees that grow on top of the banks on each side of the road leading into Daylesford (Trentham Road) are surviving the annual spraying that eradicates weeds. It certainly does the job well.  

I have complained about the roots that protrude beyond the soil bank. Every year the spraying exposes the bank to ongoing erosion, and I remain concerned that, in time, the trees will be unable to support themselves. Apart from that, spraying is ugly. Within a week and a half the embankment looks scorched, with roots hung out to dry looking like it had a terrible accident.

Are there other solutions? Of course there are. We could build properly reinforced retaining walls on that section and provide more soil for the trees. We could plant support plants that are decorative and useful. We could offer grant finance to a local group to oversee and maintain the area.

While there are significant signs there may be more life in the newly elected councillors, it appears the administration side is still not working to encourage or help people clean up our town.

Walkways and building surrounds at the Albert Street arcade need urgent maintenance and the general level of cleaning is inadequate. Everyone blames someone else. Does the council have authority to do anything about it? No one claims responsibility and nothing improves. 

There are encouraging bits of nice bitumen work (including opposite the fountain), ongoing efforts to plug potholes (instead of fixing them), some new signage and roadworks for side road parking. 

It’s not that I want an artificial “tourist village” effect. It’s just that the town does not – and has not in the 16 years I’ve been here – look proud of itself. Good business owners and homeowners create beautiful, well kept properties. But their attitude is not supported or consistent in the town.

Except for the council gardener, who continues to develop public lawns and plantings to be proud of. Gone are the generic yellow roses, and the scuffed and underfed grass in the centre of town. Even the badly constructed centrepiece in Vincent Street has a smile on its fake bluestone wall.

Things can and should be done. It’s just I don’t know whether they will be. 

Carol Oliver