Stirling councillor twigs to need for rare pines, Trigg reserve to be preserved

A STIRLING councillor has called on the City to renew efforts to preserve a threatened species of tree and protect a South Trigg Class A reserve.

Cr Karen Caddy put forward a motion to identify any threats to the population of Rottnest Island Cypress Pine (Callitris preissii) which was discovered in South Trigg last year.

Cr Caddy also urged the council to include an update to the Trigg Bushland Reserve Management Plan to recognise the threatened species and incorporate the required conservation actions.

“The species is listed as a Threatened Ecological Community species in WA with the Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) based on previous discoveries,” she said.

“This needs to be recognised and protected within our reserve management plan.”

Cr Caddy said now that The Esplanade road extensions through protected sand dunes had been scrapped by the State Government, council needed to renew efforts to protect the area.

Perth botanist Bronwen Keighery told the Stirling Times in February that some of the rare trees in the area were at least 100 years old and up to nine metres tall.

A report will be presented at a future council meeting.

“Two of these trees are estimated to be at least 100 years old, and new seedlings show that the community is healthy and regenerating; this is a historic and State- and Federally-listed rare community,” she said.

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