12 Dalziel Street Stratford QLD 4870

This is a significant, healthy Blue Quandong tree(Elaeocarpus grandis)according to the attached arborist report. Stratford is a leafy green suburb, with wide streets and substantial canopy cover, particularly at the base of the adjoining Mt Whitfield Conservation Park. This tree situated in Dalziel St provides excellent shade to this and the neighbouring house with a resultant cooling effect.
In this time of increasing temperatures, the provision of shade and natural cooling by trees is essential to maintaining our health and wellbeing. Heat related illnesses are some of the major causes of death in this country, and without the mitigating effect of our shade trees, like this Blue Quandong, the vulnerability to such illnesses will increase.
It is incumbent upon Cairns Regional Council to do what it can to preserve our shade trees to afford some protection against these rising temperatures.
To remove such a significant shade tree because of a perception of "inconvenience" is short sighted and potentially dangerous for vulnerable residents.
This tree is part of the local ecosytem; it provides shelter and nesting sites to several bird species with the migratory Torres Strait Pigeon taking a particular liking to the blue quandong fruit. If this tree is removed it takes away a vital part of the connectivity between the Mt Whitfield Conservation Park and the riparian foliage of the intermittent streams that course through the suburb and empty into the nearby Barron River.
Too often, are significant shade trees cut down in Cairns because they are "in the way" . We, instead, should be valuing and respecting these trees because of the significant benefits they provide.