Pine no more

By Danielle Galvin
FARMERS and landholders across Gippsland are reporting mass deaths of cypress trees but there’s an opportunity to salvage the timber for use around the farm.
Last week, not-for-profit farm group Agribusiness Gippsland hosted an event in Rhyll for landholders interested in using the timber from the dead or dying cypress tree hedges.
Attendees were told that there were opportunities to salvage the timber from the trees.
Nar Nar Goon logging contractor Aaron Mitchell attended the event hosted by David and Ian McFee on Ian’s property in Rhyll.
He said that the trees were dying because of the wet weather.
“Once they start to get some brown in them then they are gone and they can’t be saved,” he said.
Mr Mitchell services the Mornington Peninsula and Gippsland areas with his business Logging Victoria and said the trees struggle when there’s too much and too little water.
“When there’s bulk loads of water the oxygen can’t get into the ground,” he said.
“They struggle without water and when there’s too much.”
Mr Mitchell said it can be pricey to remove the trees if they have been dying or dead for some time.
“The top can break out of the tree,” he said.
The event on the McFee farm attracted residents from Korumburra and across Gippsland.
Attendees participated in discussions on planting, managing and harvesting farm trees guided by Rob Youl from Australian Landcare International.
There was a particular interest in the fate of the cypress hedges and conversations centred on salvaging timber from the trunks, rather than simply levelling and burning the trees.
“While the market for cypress timber probably lies in you value-adding and less for straight sale, it can be useful to salvage timber for use around the farm,” David McFee said.
Agribusiness Gippsland chairman Alex Arbuthnot thanked all the speakers and the McFee family.
“The day provided extremely valuable information and proved exceptionally timely for landowners facing the problem of dying cypress hedges,” he said.
“We always strive to offer events that are fresh and relevant, and this tree day was an example of that.”