Dead trees: EIGHT dead trees on Blumer Avenue are a sad reminder of the drought. In an effort to prevent further losses, residents have been encouraged to help out with the watering of trees in their street.Photo:

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THE recent downpour came too late for some of Griffith’s famed lush street trees, with at least eight well-established trees dead.

The once verdant foliage on eight brush box trees lining Blumer Avenue is long gone and they now stand as lifeless, brittle brown structures – a site lamented by many residents.
Griffith City Council parks and gardens manger Reg Brown said he had known for quite some time the 10 to 15-year-old trees would not survive, but did not have sufficient resources to halt their downfall.
“They have died over the last few years because of the drought. It would seem that that type of tree – the brush box tree – is not suitable for this area,” Mr Brown said.
“While the seasons were good we could give them enough water, but now it seems you just can’t keep enough water on them. We knew they were dying, but we couldn’t do everything with one truck.”
He is now seeking advice from NSW Forestry on a more suitable plant variety to replace the brush boxes.
He said attention would now be turned to ensuring the longevity of other street trees, with council installing eight separate drip watering systems which would look after around 450 street trees.
“Those systems should make a big difference,” he said.
Also expected to help is an extra two hours of allocated watering each day which has been paid for by council after the sale of some of the town water.