The back panel of a fence around a cluster of quandong trees near the Castlereagh Highway, between Lightning Ridge and the turn-off to Cumborah, was recently stolen.
Also known as the native peach tree, the quandong is, according to Michael Taylor, quite rare in this area.
Michael Taylor said the fence had been wonderfully successful, enabling the original quandong trees to fully establish themselves as well as allowing new trees to flourish
Michael Taylor was part of the group that in 2006 asked the Walgett Shire Council to erect the fence to protect the quandong trees from stock and other herbivorous animals, including rabbits and hares.
Director of Rural Infrastructure and Support Services Ian Taylor said the council received a $1300 grant from the Western CMA to erect the fence.
Further work was carried out in response to the group’s claim that the work done under the funding was insufficient. Ian Taylor suspects the fence cost more than $1300.
When asked about the theft of the back panel of the fence, Ian Taylor said the council had not reported it because they did not know about it and because it was not significant in terms of council’s priorities.
Ian Taylor said the fence was located on crown land which was clear of council’s permitted area of operations.
As the fence only served an environmental conservation purpose and it was not required for environmental management, maintenance of it could not be funded under the road budget. It would seem unlikely then that the council would be willing to pay for the fence to be repaired.
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