City to host community information sessions

The tree-planting ceremony was attended by deputy mayor Eddie Andrews, Ward 59 councillor Mikhail Manuel, mayoral committee member for community services and health, Francine Higham, TreeKeepers non-profit, Newlands Community Improvement District (CID) and members of the city's Recreation and Parks department.

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In May last year, the City removed six public trees from a Newlands parking lot located on the corner of Kildare Road and Main Street after they fell prey to the PSHB.

At the time, Mr Manuel said they had to remove the trees carefully to avoid any further contamination to other trees ("Newlands trees fall prey to invasive beetle," Southern Suburbs Tatler, May 16, 2024).

Speaking at the tree-planting ceremony, Mr Andrews says the City is still seeking a sustainable plan, not only to contain but also to mitigate the beetle's tree infestation.

"It has an economic and agricultural impact and we have engaged with various role players not only in the city, but external experts that can provide our service users with information like the type of equipment or vehicles we must use," he says.

Mr Andrews says the event on Monday was not only about planting trees. "It is to emphasize our commitment to replacing those trees that have been lost to the beetle's infestation," he says.

Ms Higham says it is significant that they are planting trees at the site where trees were removed last year. "The Water Oak trees that are being planted are more resilient against the beetles, they are large trees and have a stronger chance of surviving," she says.