FERGUS – Neighbours on St. George Street West in Fergus are trying to save a 100-year-old maple tree the township says must come down as sanitary sewer replacement is slated to commence on the street this month.
The roots will be damaged by the work and will interfere with the new infrastructure, the township says, and it’s safer to remove the tree first rather than try to work around it.
“The existing sanitary service to 185 St. George St. W. is located three metres from the trunk of the sugar maple in question and will result in significant root damage during replacement of the service,” communications officer Kendra Martin stated in an email.
“Based on the urban forester’s condition assessment of the tree and in order for the contractor to be able to complete the work safely, it was decided that the tree must be removed.”
Martin said the township has considered other options, such as directional drilling, “however that would still require us to make an excavation within the tree protection zone, therefore still causing major damage to the roots of the tree.”
But Penny O’Donnell doesn’t want to see the tree go.
The tree in question is on her neighbour’s boulevard but she reaps the benefits of the shade and protection from the weather the tree provides, she said.
“They assume the roots will interfere (with the work), but they don’t know for sure. That’s what prompted me to look and see if the tree can be saved,” she said.
There aren’t a lot of homes on this section of the street, as the Fergus Curling Club and a parking lot take up much of the real estate.
But five local families want to save the tree and children in those homes have created artwork and messages they’ve hung on the tree, right beside the township’s notice that the tree is coming down.
“We are fast losing the tree canopy in town,” O’Donnell said. “We need these trees. We need to save as many as we can.”
Martin said the existing sanitary infrastructure on St. George Street West between Provost Lane and St. David Street North is about 90 years old and has reached the end of its service life.
“The existing sewer was also installed at an insufficient depth, causing freezing conditions during the winter months resulting in frequent sewer backups in this area,” Martin stated.
“The reconstruction of St. George Street West includes the replacement of the existing sewer and at a proper depth that will prevent freezing.”
Triton Engineering Services Limited, retained by the township for the work, has distributed a letter to residents explaining the project.
“We have carefully reviewed the details of the tree condition assessment of the large diameter deciduous tree in front of your address at No. 185 St. George St. W.,” states the letter.
“It has been concluded that due to the trees condition assessment and its proximity to your sanitary service that it will not safely withstand the construction that will take place, nor is it a good candidate to recover from the disturbance that it will endure.”
Once the work is complete and the asphalt is laid, two trees will be planted to replace the old one.
“One tree will be planted in the road allowance in front of 185 St. George St. W. and the other in the road allowance across the street in front of the Fergus Curling Club,” stated an email from the township’s urban forestry project manager Mathieu Alain.
Daniela Sen, another neighbour, has started a petition to save the tree and has collected about 100 supporting signatures.
“In the midst of a climate crisis, the township should be doing more to save the life of trees in the area,” said Sen.
