Thread: Heads up - maybe some river gum E. teretecornis going as fresh wood.

Hi - depending on location I may be interested. I have a chainsaw but not a mill but could help with the slabbing of the tree. I also have a slabmaster, so if there was a need for levelling and sanding in the future I would be available to offer services for that. Cheers. Clive

Originally Posted by Xanthorrhoeas

A community group that I know may have to fell a very large, sick (die back) river gum in the next few months. Brisbane suburban park river front. Are any forum members interested in milling the timber, perhaps in return for sharing the timber and felling cost? The group(and I!) could possibly use some, but there is a lot to be had if the tree comes down. Please let me know and I will pass on to the club. Lots of maybes at this stage, BCC approval being one. However, if interested we can discuss options.

Is it Camaldulensis?...reason being,i thought Teretecornis was Qld Blue gum...Cheers MM

Common names for plants are very unreliable in usage, especially by me! And my nomenclature is pretty out of date as I still call them all Eucalyptus whereas my more up-to-date colleagues know which have been placed in other genera by Johnson and Hill. Yes, E. camaldulensis is the River Red Gum, but, as far as I know, the closest it gets to Brisbane is the Darling Downs. The common "river gum" in Brisbane is E. teretecornis - you are correct the usual common name is Blue Gum. That's why I gave the species. Sorry if I mislead you with the river reference.

Location is Sherwood, Brisbane.

Often if the large old ones(Blue gums) have dieback,they are often hollow..MM

I'd be keen. No milling equipment but I have access to a chainsaw, and I'm desperately looking for an excuse to buy a bigger one...

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OK. This thread will now go quiet until something happens with the tree - for better or worse. But I will definitely post again if I hear it has to come down. I will also post again if the powers that be decree the tree is OK and cannot be felled. They will have to say it in writing though because they will have to accept liability as the tree has enough widow and widower-makers in it to keep a few undertakers busy. Especially as it is over the top of the group's meeting room.

Yes Mapleman, this one does have rot in the base. Two big scars about 2400 high each side showing dead wood. One side is still solid to a tap but the other is rotten and hollow sounding. However, this tree is BIG so there should still be lots of good timber in it.

In natural bushland trees like this should be left alone to become animal habitat but in public parks over high use areas they become a risk. It is a dilemma for someone like me who loves trees alive and as timber!

Originally Posted by Xanthorrhoeas

... However, this tree is BIG so there should still be lots of good timber in it...

Not always the case,often the hollows are in just about every limb...picked up some monsters a few years ago,would have sworn that they would have produced some good wood,but sadly no...generally,if they are on the way out,best to leave them where they stand..the amount of time and money that is spent on such trees isn't really justified...then again,you might be lucky..good luck with it..MM