Perth Voice Interactive

MARINE TERRACE was partially blocked on Wednesday after a large branch from a tree in the Esplanade Reserve snapped and fell off.

The tree serves as a nesting and roosting spot for the local Night Heron bird population, whose night-time mating squawks are notorious for scaring the willies out of nearby Esplanade Hotel guests.

Their nest wasn’t affected, but parking motorists will no doubt be grateful to see the end of the droppings raining down from one their favoured roost.

The debris halted traffic and City of Fremantle officers were quick to remedy to situation, despite being on a lunch break at the time and having to deal with a growing.

Youngster Raffety Hunt was in the park at the time and watched as the tree fell, noting a loud “crack, bang – similar to a gunshot” and dust being launched two metres into the air. 

One man sat unbothered on a bench beside the tree as it all happened, while Jess Smith hurried down after a friend who knew she’d parked nearby alerted her to the fall.

Ms Smith and a local taxi driver expressed their luck in avoiding any harm or damage. The driver was “thankful and relieved that no cars were in the way”, at the time. 

Fremantle Esplanade is home to a variety of tree species, including the Norfolk Island pine tree and Monterey cypress, with the latter being the victim. 

In the colder months, the cypress serves as a food source for the local wildlife. 

In 2018, the council had to remove another cypress as it was deemed unsafe by local arborists. 

The trees typically live for over 200 years growing up to 130 feet tall and eight feet in diameter.

by SOUL FAZZINO