[Pil-pc-oceania] Roadside plantings etc

[P Ferguson]

Russ wrote:   As for road verges, there is also potential as the examples of 
the use of macadamias as
> street trees in Brisbane and bush food trees in Sydney demonstrate. A 
> number
> of gardeners in Sydney have made use of their footpaths for growing food
> while leaving plenty of space for pedestrians.

I am opposed to street plantings, which may become neglected.  One person 
with good intentions may plant fruit trees, then move away and there is no 
one to then look after the trees.  Some residents are so negligent that they 
cannot even keep their grass mown.

First up there is the dreaded Queensland fruit fly.   Neglected trees become 
a breeding ground for these pests which have left Queensland behind on their 
missionary journey to infect all fruit and vegetable crops  Australia-wide.

Even Macadamias with their tough shells are not immune to insect attack.  I 
had both a pecan and a macadamia trees at Coalcliff on the south coast of 
NSW, and was astonished to find the macadamias were attacked by a minute 
insect capable of boring through that tough shell.

P Ferguson
Illawarra NSW