An popular pompom tree on the northern outskirts of Brisbane has been saved by community spirit after originally being earmarked for removal.
Earlier this week Brisbane City Council announced that the tree was to be taken down despite strong community desire to keep it.
The tree, which had died, had been a popular spot for residents to hang bright handmade pompoms on, especially during the COVID-19 lockdown.
"It is not a miracle — we haven't revived the tree," Councillor Jared Cassidy told ABC Radio Brisbane of the reprieve
"But we've taken another look at it and because there's such great community spirit around this it will stay longer,"
"There's no threat to public safety and it won't come down anytime soon.
"The blue R will be removed from the tree, but the tree will stay."
New pompom tree planned
Cr Cassidy said in addition to the tree staying, with all the pompoms attached, a new tree would be planted nearby, to eventually replace it.
"Just down the road in Upper Morea park, the new tree will begin to grow and when the original pompom tree has to go, we will move the pompoms down to that tree," he said.
"The original tree will stay standing with the pompoms adorned for a long time."
He said it was a wonderful example of local creativity.
"If there's a silver lining out of COVID, it's been the community spirit and people getting to love their suburbs again," Cr Cassidy said..
"This is a representation of what the community has done in the last few months and they didn't want to lose it so it's a good outcome."
