To dig or not to dig?

[kvan64]

I drove pass a Brisbane city council's waste land (a creek near my place) and discovered a small forest full of floribunda wisteria. These are currently blooming in full of long racements of light pink flowers. There are at least over 10 big climbers that cover entire small trees. Their trunks are in great shape. There could even be more of these along the creek but I didn't dare to explore further as I was afraid of snakes. I guess that the seeds must have travelled down the creek and banked here some years ago. I am so tempted to grab a shovel and revisit the creek on some weekend but was not sure if this is legal or even ethical . Any suggestion?

[Jamie]

well legally i dont think it is, but if it is waste land as you say you might be able to talk to your local council and get permission. they will tell you if you can! ethically if you have permission it shouldnt be a problem!
other than that i dont know much more, sorry i couldnt help with any more info

[daiviet_nguyen]

Hi,

This post might be of some relevance -- viewtopic.php?f=15&t=384&hilit=stranger

I am sure a legal permission from the authority would be a peace of mind, and protection.

Good luck and pls post pictures if you are given a go ahead

Best regards.

[Jamie]

Hi,

This post might be of some relevance -- viewtopic.php?f=15&t=384&hilit=stranger

I am sure a legal permission from the authority would be a peace of mind, and protection.

Good luck and pls post pictures if you are given a go ahead

Best regards.

totally agree with the peace of mind and protection, you dont want to do it without the permission there are big legal consequences!

[anttal63]

not natives???
then take takem out !!!

only a matter of time b4 the council does, slashm that is. ask permission? naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[ozzy]

Yep no exotic is safe on Government land ( cept for the Botanical Gardens I guess ), as long as its not private property, is quite obviously growing wild and not been planted, and its not native I just help myself.

[Matthew]

I must say i have been guilty of collecting on council land without permission b4 About 15 months ago i collected a boug which was looking pretty stuffed ( contorted, stunted etc all the good things for bonsai-all the bad things for landscape plants). Anyway about 3 months ago i went past that very same area and the council had just moved bobcats in and ripped out all the other bougs just completly buggered them . Its now just a big dry dirt patch atm. Some of these bougs i was told were easy 40 years. So i like to think that i saved this one little guy from certain doom. Thats how i look at it anyway you guys make your own mind up.

[alpineart]

Hi Kvan64 without permission you are breaking the law and the penalties are as much as $5000 for removal of any plant material down here.If you go to the Council ask for the "Parks and Gardens" depot , these fella's are usually very helpful when it comes to obtaining material .It may cost a slab but remember to leave the area as undamaged as possible , so you can always ask for permission in other areas of the council ..Cheers

[Webos]

I asked recently and this was the reply:

"Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Unfortunately Council does not have a permit available to you which would allow you to take vegetation from the road reserves. Apart from public liability, there maybe concern regarding weed/pathogen spread with digging on some roadsides."

I say take the risk, take only invasive exotic species....dont ask, you'll most likely be rejected. Just remember that some exotic species can be regarded as cultural heritage since they might be the only remaining evidence of some kind of settlement on the site...

Anyway...Have fun and post your digs!

[kvan64]

Hi all,
Thanks for all your advice. Now I am so undecisive. If I asked and they say no and I go and ....dig anyway. It would be even more servere consequences and ignorance is no longer an excuse

For the time being I probably just leave them there and just enjoy the view whenever I go pass them. Maybe just to let them finish flowering. Anyway, I won on eBay a couple of matured bare-rooted wisteria that just arrived recently. I probably just see how these guys do as bonsai starters first and go from there.

Noal, you just reminded me that there are some major roadwork/expansion in the area. Some of these may just be right in the way. Maybe I could try something out.

[andrewn]

Hi

This is my rule for collecting trees:

If trees are not mine then I dont take them .

If trees are in someone else land then I make some enquiry and ask for it ,if yes I am happy to dig if no then i am still happy not to have them....


I usually look for demolition home, call them up ,have a look around and and dig tree my self and pay @ $10 max . sometime pay nothing .

Andrew

[Jamie]

ahhhh stuff it! be an outlaw just take em!!!

a good riminal never gets caught and what the council dont know wont hurt them. this is gonna cause contradiction and i know i said to ask permission but i was thinking how often the council goes and does things without asking the public... i think its time the public strikes back!@!

[miyagiman]

times are a changin fellas. you used to be able to talk to someone in the relevant department and usually come away with a satisfactory outcome ( ie. permission ), now a days it seems all common sense has been forcfully removed from the minds of the people who now "control" our lives. it is written into the directives of these departments that common sense is now illegal, (don't believe me, just ask the right questions & you shall be told. my brother in law works for the DSE & threatened to prosecute his own father).
i used to be able to work with some of these guys for permission, now they are unaproachable because of their fear of our now socialistic regime here in victoria.
enough said here, digging "weeds" from any public area is now almost impossible because they have already been eradicated or our fear of prosecution stops us.
by the way, does anyone realise that these people are actually "public servants",
paid for with our taxes. oh, and we are "allowed" to vote for them. LOL. miyagi.

[Jamie]

times are a changin fellas. you used to be able to talk to someone in the relevant department and usually come away with a satisfactory outcome ( ie. permission ), now a days it seems all common sense has been forcfully removed from the minds of the people who now "control" our lives. it is written into the directives of these departments that common sense is now illegal, (don't believe me, just ask the right questions & you shall be told. my brother in law works for the DSE & threatened to prosecute his own father).
i used to be able to work with some of these guys for permission, now they are unaproachable because of their fear of our now socialistic regime here in victoria.
enough said here, digging "weeds" from any public area is now almost impossible because they have already been eradicated or our fear of prosecution stops us.
by the way, does anyone realise that these people are actually "public servants",
paid for with our taxes. oh, and we are "allowed" to vote for them. LOL. miyagi.

....so is this a vote for what i said...?? lol and good call on the voting system

[miyagiman]

hey, i've come up with an idea. what about if the bonsai fraternity could infitrate the DSE & get some of them doing bonsai. maybe then we could get someone on our side & give us some secrets. miyagi.