Seven Tuckeroos have been planted by Certificate II Horticulture students at the entrance to Kingscliff TAFE Campus to replace the eight fig trees recently removed.
Due to safety concerns raised by Essential Energy the eight fig trees that lined both sides of the Kingscliff campus entrance where removed over the Christmas period.
The fig trees presented an ongoing hazard that could potentially cause severe harm and power loss to the area if they were to fall on the high voltage power lines that they overhung.
Essential Energy kindly donated $1,000 to buy and plant new trees. The native Tuckeroo was chosen by TAFE horticultural staff for its aesthetics, suitability to local conditions and the fact that it is power line friendly.
Certificate II Horticulture students planted the trees as part of their course. Tuckeroos are a small native rainforest tree with dark green foliage that bears small greenish-yellow flowers which are followed by orange seed pods.
Shane Flannery, Horticultural teacher, used the tree planting exercise as a chance for his students to get some practical experience.
“We are very lucky here at Kingscliff TAFE, we have an abundance of natural space and landscaped gardens. This gives us plenty of opportunities to undertake practical exercises like the planting of these tuckeroos”, Shane said.
Horticultural student Clare Harrigan is enjoying her time at TAFE and the hands on experience she is receiving. Clare said; “It was a shame to see the figs go, but it’s great that we are planting new trees and that my class is involved. It will be nice to come back in a few years and see how they have grown”.
Nothing from the fig trees went to waste with Essential Energy wood chipping the non-native trees which groundstaff at the TAFE have since been busy using as free mulch – including for the mulching around the brand new native trees.
