‘Ugly and barren’: Council’s tree cull sparks property fears

A bitter fight has erupted on a quiet Tasmanian street, with residents warning a council plan to cut down 25 towering historic elms could leave them poorer, hotter and staring at a far less attractive neighbourhood. The mature trees, which have lined Risby Street in Ulverstone, on the northern coast of Tasmania, for more than 80 years, are due to be removed this month as part of a Central Coast Council road renewal project, sparking outrage from locals who say the loss of the leafy canopy could drag down property values and strip the street of one of its biggest drawcards. According to realestate.com.au, homes in the tree-lined suburb sell for around $635,000, with house prices up 14.4 per cent compared to this time last year. MORE NEWS ‘Surprised’: Snake emerges from family’s toilet Common $4 item saves Aus home from $8k disaster ‘Got kids?’: Retiree sparks debate over plan to vet neighbours Homeowner Susan said the trees were a major reason she chose to buy on the street and fears their removal will transform the area for the worse. “I think it will harm property values,” she told Yahoo News. “It’s October, and it’s already hot, and the trees provide an incredible amount of shade...