LIVERPOOL Plains Shire Council has launched an investigation, after several memorial trees were cut down in Willow Tree.
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The trees made up part of the town's memorial avenue and were planted to honour local soldiers who died during WWI.
However, last month several of the trees were cut down without permission, leaving Quirindi RSL Sub Branch president and newly elected Liverpool Plains mayor Doug Hawkins outraged.
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"I was absolutely gutted when I found out and I am really pleased the council is investigating, so hopefully we can get to the bottom of this," Mr Hawkins told the Leader.
"A lot of locals were very upset by these trees being cut down and have been calling for answers.
"I tabled a motion at the September council meeting to investigate the incident and hopefully we should have an outcome at this month's council meeting."
Cr Hawkins said as well as finding out who was responsible for the incident, it was "vital to remedy the situation".
"I understand there is no way of bringing the trees back, but hopefully we can find a good solution," he said.
"I'm incredibly grateful to be elected mayor and I have hit the ground running on this issue.
"There is processes in place and we will allow those processes to run their course and see where we go from there.
"Punishment isn't what this is about, it's about trying to do what we can to make it right, regardless of who's responsible."
Cr Hawkins said he would do all he could to ensure the memorial avenue would be restored.
"I want to see the trees be replaced by trees, not by a plaque or something similar," he said.
"I'm not exactly sure how long those trees had stood, but I'm sure they had been there for a very long time and I think it's only right they be replaced by trees that have a good chance of growing.
"They represented the sacrifice of local blokes who lost their lives fighting for Australia in the Great War and it's only right we honour them.
"One thing is for sure, I won't be taking a backward step on this one."
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
