Re: Dangerous Pine Trees removed to make way for fluoridation plant!!!
The pine trees are a separate issue, they are pinus radiata, and are not a native tree to Australia. In a tropical climate (Mackay is in north Queensland and is a tropical climate), these trees grow very fast, and are not long lived. As they get old the do shed branches and as they have a shallow root system they are prone to falling over. This, together with the fact the this part of Queensland gets a number of cyclones every year, does make these trees a hazard.
Pinus radiata was a tree that was planted widely throughout Australia as a plantation tree for softwood and wood chips for paper pulp. Many of our native forests were destroyed to plant these trees because of their fast growth rate. They self seed and have become a major weed pest in many areas in Australia.
Fluoridation of the water supply is stupid , dangerous and should never happen, but don't feel too sorry for these trees, they should never have been there anyway.
spud