Save Our Shade
We all love our green city and appreciate the shade of a big fig to park under on a hot day. Imagine a FNQ where every urban street has beautiful, well maintained shade trees and you can walk through the city without getting sunburned.
The Cairns Regional Council’s planning laws & vegetation management practises allow people to cut down huge shade trees, like the St Johns fig, at an alarming rate.
Currently on the chopping block: a 40 year old fig that the St John’s Anglican Church on Minnie Street has applied to cut down on the edge of their property. The fig provides over five metres of shade onto the street.
With proper care and maintenance this tree can thrive and continue to provide shade to the parishioners of the church and those walking through the city.
We call on the Cairns Regional Council planners to reject the St Johns Church application to cut down this Exceptional tree and commit to keeping our streets shady.
Above: 40+ year old Weeping Fig on the St John’s Anglican Church Minnie Street boundary in Cairns City
Above: T5 Weeping Fig outside Cairns City Library that CAFNEC community members succesfully campaigned to stop CRC cutting down in 2022
CAFNEC Tree Action Group
CAFNEC community members formed the Tree Action Group in mid 2024 in response to concerns about the increasing number of Shade trees being cut down in the Cairns Regional Council area. The group builds on the decades of work done in the region to protect urban trees. The group is coordinated by CAFNEC Community Organiser Monique Jeffs.
We have three sub working groups with specific focus:
Developing a Pilot Street Tree Planting with Cairns Regional Council funding to trial what it takes to get 50% tree canopy cover on suburban streets. Monitoring and responding to new & existing Development Applications that include clearing. Community campaigning to reform the Vegetation Management Code and hold the Cairns Regional Council to account for protecting our significant trees.Contact TAG on trees@nullcafnec.org.au or email CAFNEC Community Organiser, Monique at getinvolved@nullcafnec.org.au for more information or to get involved with one of the working groups.
Notice a tree being cut down or removed?
Trees on Public Land
1. Take a picture of the whole tree and note the date and location. If the tree has already been removed see if you can get a screenshot of the tree from Google Maps Street view.
2. Email the pictures to feedback@nullcairns.qld.gov.au (or relevant Local Council contact) to request information about why the tree is being or was removed. Include if you’re a local resident.
3. CC or Forward your email to trees@nullcafnec.org.au with pictures and information about the tree including it’s location.
Trees on Private Land
1. It’s happening in front of you: Take photos of as much of the trees as you can, Council staff need to be able to identify what was there beforehand and call 1300 692 247
2. Follow up: Email council@nullcairns.qld.gov.au and request a CRM be raised for a ‘Breach of Planning Scheme’ include dates and times as well as the photos you have (before and after if possible).
3. CC Trees@nullcafnec.org.au in your email and we can follow up if you don’t get a response
If you see this “Tree Removal Notice” sign follow the
steps on the left of this page.
Above: Le Grand Park Fig removed by Cairns Regional Council in 2024