From work not gelling with the community’s expectations, the announcement the last remaining eucalypt was coming down, the subsequent protest movement, and then the last-minute reprieve – if only for a week – the saga of a single tree and its surrounds has occupied the keyboards of more readers than any other topic over the past few weeks.

While I take no side in this debate I will put forward a few little discussion points.

* Interestingly, the current debate and social media outrage mirrors that of 2013 – when the council announced it was cutting down this same tree due to an arborist’s report on potential safety issues.

It may have been a short-notice announcement from the council last week, but it has been two years coming.

* Where’s the outrage, protest, yarn-bombing of all the other trees removed at the weekend to make way for redevelopment of Littleton Gardens and Zingel Place? 

“Dave” got a reprieve, but several other semi-mature trees didn’t.

* I’m not entirely sure what to make of this, but there was an intriguing shift in conversation between two of our Facebook posts on the same subject.

When announcing the eucalypt was to come down with an image of the tree, a good majority of the subsequent comments were angry at the council and sad about the tree’s removal.

However, our coverage of the pro-Dave protest, with a photo of Greens councillor Keith Hughes addressing the gathering, saw the majority of comments admonishing protesters and reiterating the council’s claims the tree poses a potential safety risk.

Make of that what you will.

* A little bird tells me a well-known archery proponent was approached by Dave’s supporters and asked if he would fire an arrow over the tree with a rope connected so someone could climb into the branches.

Shooting arrows in a public park? Surely not from the same voices who wished to deny the local archery group youth week and seniors week funding as it was an inappropriate pastime for our community?

I’ll leave you with the comment from one BDN reader that perhaps sums up the lengthy and at times emotional debate.

Kane Jones writes: “Bigger issues in the valley than a tree guys. Maybe some redirection of the resources being used here to help the drug and employment issues.”

Email me at ben.smyth@fairfaxmedia.com.au

BELOW is a selection of comments made by readers during the past week, reprinted as they appear on the BDN website and Facebook page.

Join the conversation by commenting below any story that appears on the BDN website, visiting our Facebook page or emailing the editor on ben.smyth@fairfaxmedia.com.au.

Now I know why there is no parking today hope it's worth it at the end, they need a shelter to get out of the rain and sun

Sue Rootsey

Wow and people complain when Bega gets nothing done? Bunch of whingers 

Jamie Keay

Surely a children's playground would be more beneficial to the community than a performance area. It's disgusting how there is not a decent park in this town for children.

Debbie Mead

still don't know why they are doing this now? digging up carpark? Will there be less parking? It seemed okay as was. Agree that if they are going to do anything why not a better children's play ground? Waste of time putting in more grass there. So hard to get a park as it was, some days

Donna Nicoll

It would of been nice to at least see a new park for the children in the plans! also a cover and some kind of soft mat for the water fountain

Ellie MacArthur

No shady trees, no kids playground, no earth mound with seat. Someone keeps making decisions about the park without revising the plan

DameJoanna Dodds

Are you serious? 

How can you compare skin cancer to a falling limb? 

It's a preventable freak accident. 

Skin Cancer is preventable by taking personal responsibility. 

If you idiots had this tree 'saved' and it fell on someone and injured or killed them then that is on everyone that protested.

Rob Cross

People that support the use of gum trees in public places have little regard for the safety of others , there are many more trees that are safer for public areas

Bob Williams

Damned if they do & damned if they don't. Conspiracies aside, imagine the outcry if someone died due to a falling tree limb on a tree that a qualified arborist advised Council to take out.

Chris Sparks

Because 1 tree is going to prevent skin cancer.... Do they know how stupid that sounds especially when its in the middle of a car park and you can't sit under it anyway

Debbie Thorp

We really do need to face the fact that eucalypts do have a life span that like all else comes to an end. Is sad for the nesting birds, any sheltering wildlife, but! Let us move on, say thanks and plant the next one, eucalypt of course.

Angelika Pfeiffer

The tree is just reaching full height and has fairly equal foliage on upper and lower branches. No hollow branches ate evident. That indicates it is at most, 150 years old. If kept healthy, it has another 100 years to reach maturity, another 100 to become over-mature, upto another 150 until senescence and dead.

It has the potential to outlive all of us, our children and grandchildren. 

Wouldn't it be wonderful, decades from now, to show them the old tree and explain how it was saved from fear and stupidity?

Tony Quoll Hastings

Why have the car park? Remove the car park and make a huge garden around the tree. Keep the narrow car park down Woolworths end near the ramp for disabled car parking. Make it a green zone. A people place not a car place.

Heather Burness

I think everyone is entitled to an opinion. And being direspectful to the people who want the tree to stay won't help. You know we need a few arborists opinions, not just 1. Would you believe the 1st surgeon you saw that tells you. That you need surgery. No you may consult another. I think before people get upset and cut the tree down. It needs to be strongly proven that the tree needs to go. Not just evidence of 1 arborist. Because once Dave the tree is gone he is gone.

Sharon Troy

Oh crikey... Now they are even naming the tree??

Why waste time consulting?? What are the Community going to do? If it has to go, it has to go.

As mentioned above, it's a nice tree, but the wrong place.

Jason Lewington

I think they're "out on a limb" with this one. 

I'll just "leave" you with that thought.

Brad Wilton