A council worker has died after being struck by a falling palm tree in Batchelor, south of Darwin.
Palm trees are common throughout the Northern Territory’s Top End, found in both private gardens and public areas. Regular maintenance is crucial, as tropical conditions can accelerate tree decay.
(ABC News: Neda vanovac)
The incident occurred in Batchelor, with the victim identified as a Coomalie Council worker. While the specific cause of the tree’s fall remains under investigation, arborists emphasize the importance of tree maintenance, particularly in tropical climates.
“For a person to be in exactly the wrong spot at exactly the right time, is really rare,”
Ben Kenyon, an arborist with extensive experience in the Northern Territory, commented on the rarity of such events.
Mr. Kenyon, who operates an arboriculture business in Melbourne and frequently visits the NT, described the event as a tragedy and extended his condolences to the worker’s family.
He highlighted that the rapid growth rates, high humidity, and specific tree species found in the Top End can considerably accelerate the impact of diseases like fungal infections. A fungal infection that might take five to ten years to weaken a tree in southern Australia could perhaps compromise a similar tree in the Top End within three to twelve months.