Council’s Mayor Jenny Whitney said that while the presence of coconuts tends to create a tropical and laid back feel in the region, the nuts and fronds can become hazards if not maintained properly.

“Council officers have recently mapped the location and height of over 970 coconut trees on public land in the region. Of the 970 registered trees, 775 of them potentially require de-nutting twice per year at a cost of over $75,000 per year in contractor’s fees,” Mayor Whitney said.

“Council will reduce the maintenance cost by using trained Council staff where possible to maintain the trees as well as using the new policy to guide coconut tree retention and removal,” she said.
“The Coconut Management Policy aims to develop a sustainable and cost effective system of
managing and maintaining coconuts in high profile locations, while removing and possibly
replacing coconuts in low profile locations.”

“Council recognises that the coconut trees are an important part of the amenity of the Whitsunday region and we welcome the community’s feedback on the draft policy.”

The Coconut Management Policy is available on the Whitsunday Regional Council website
under Community Engagement.