Why some of our trees couldn’t survive Alfred, and which suburbs were worst hit

On community Facebook groups, many called for the trees to be immediately replaced, describing them as the key to “the character and appeal of our neighbourhood”.

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Jan Paterson, vice president of the Queensland Arboricultural Association, said although she had no direct experience with the Teneriffe figs, it was “not overly surprising” to hear some had fallen victim to the storm.

Paterson, who has owned a local arborist business for 20 years, said some fig trees on urban streets had huge canopies but only a limited strip for their roots to grow.

Under normal tree safety standards, they would be safe, but that did not guarantee survival in the extreme winds Brisbane experienced earlier this month.

“I give the analogy of a person driving in normal traffic; they’re pretty safe,” she said. “But Alfred was like being hit by a Mack truck.”

Brisbane Times asked the council which species had suffered the most damage in the storm, but was only given the snapshot of jobs by suburb.

Paterson said some species had failed more than others across Brisbane. She would not elaborate on which they were, arguing that such information might lead people to seek to remove healthy trees that were not at risk of failure.

Just as trees on public land were assessed by professionals, she said plants on private property also deserved the attention of trained arborists, who would look at their branches, canopies, leaves and roots, and for any evidence of pests or disease.

These assessments usually begin with ground-level visual checks, but in more complex cases may require climbing trees, drones and X-rays.

Paterson warned home owners to be wary of door-to-door tree-loppers, who she said often spread unjustified “mischief” by suggesting all large trees were dangerous.

“My best advice is to engage a trade-qualified, insured arborist every 12 to 18 months, and after a significant weather event such as Cyclone Alfred,” she said.

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