Chainsaws at the ready for Newcastle figs

weird, try this

Who knew that fig trees could cause injuries or deaths, one every couple years. I guess this is a dangerous business!

Rare attack figs huh. Sounds like someone wants the ground they are on for something else. Rarely do politicians move that fast unless money is to be made.

The article explains that they want to cut the 14 figs trees down & replace them with safer trees at a cost of $1.4 million dollars.    That's a 100K per tree...

Upon reading this, my little voice was tells me something just didn't add up.  Had to be in Californy (sorry Jon and others), or so I thought.  Went in search of pics of these trees (not hard) read a couple of newspaper stories and a few dozen comment posts attached to the stories.  Things still did not add up.  Still I thought these were in California, until I dug a little further - this is is Australia and these aren't your everyday edible figs.  Many cities and towns would die to have a tree lined lane such as this esp us here in Nashville after our power company's new policy of topping, maiming, and cutting most of the street trees in some insane idea of giving us more stable power.  To the tune of tens of millions and a bunch of unhealthy and very unsightly trees as well as the uglification of Nashville they've achieved the almighty reduction of instead of 13% downtime to 11% downtime (not exact figures, but something like that was reported).  Of well I better not get up on my soapbox.    

Pics of the "figs" are below.  If a driver gets killed driving past these trees - they should have been buried long ago - they are idiots just lucky enough to have lived  long enough to learn to drive.  Just proves that politics and politicians and the PC (save everybody from themself crowd) was able to migrate over big oceans!

BTW:  There is another story that said $4 mil.  However for 100k per tree porice, I'll fly over to AU - no I'll fly a crew over with me, buy a brand new lift truck, a new chipper, a bobcat, a trailer or two, a truck or two, new chainsaws, stay in the ritziest hotel, and drink the finest wines and still give them back a refund and give the city the equipment!

Sounds like the "commisioners" wanted to remove the trees and commissioned a study to come out the way they wanted it.
In Tallahassee there is usually someone wanting to cut down the ancient oaks lining the beautiful,shady, canopy roadways.
Seems the trees cause accidents,WHEN folks drive twice the 35MPH speed limit DUI at night.
Cut the Trees,  That way we can drive twice a new posted 45MPH speed limit safely at night while DUI.

I like you humor Caneyscud!

Must be nice to live somewhere so safe that the top priority is protecting citizens from the threat posed by of a row of ancient trees.

Well, after seeing the trees, it all makes perfect sense! Those are the rare ficus grabbicus trees. They are known to become animate every two years at which time they have an insatialable thirst for human flesh. For a few hours after midnight they are well known to reach down with their hideous branches and grab-bicus unsuspecting passersby! Oh the horror!!!!

Obviously, someone in power had an agenda they had deemed more important than these majestic trees.  

And for that good reason I ask you this my good friends?

Is it CONSTITUTIONAL POWER? Or, KINGLY POWER?

Argue all you want but when Royalty speaks or makes up their mind this is it!

Sorry for being negative but it's true.

It will take another revolution for the people to take back the power and say enough is enough!

I didn't think figs would grow that large.  I found this information of the Newcastle figs.  They really use to prune them back.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Newcastle+figs&view=detail&id=BC253B8125729F2AFFF5DCD4E80DC8DF1F503F43&first=0

Life is a risk.  Chop it down
To bad politicians aren't deemed uninsurable and too much of a risk.

Fancy name for that "pruning" is pollarding. 

I think they have that type of fig in the Harry Potter movies, no wait Lord of the Rings!   Anyway, the photo of the canopy with the cars parked is just gorgeous.  A shame they are chopping, digging, drilling them to oblivion.

Sara,

It's all too common now.
One person complains and the other 999 people must follow to appease to him/her.