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No one hurt as huge branch snaps off Geraldton tree

Headshot of Adam Poulsen
Adam PoulsenGeraldton Guardian

A huge branch has fallen from the Moreton Bay fig tree next to the Geraldton Visitor Centre on Marine Terrace.

The force of the impact snapped timber beams on the popular 50-cent piece swing seating area when the branch came down shortly after noon today. Witnesses said no one was injured.

Leonie Jones, who witnessed the incident, said she and a friend were waiting for their lunch at the nearby Sail Inn when the tree branch came down.

“We were going to sit down and have lunch under the tree – five minutes later we would have been sitting there,” she said.

“We heard the crack and it just went bang and it all fell down.

“We held our breath, thinking I hope nobody’s underneath it, and then we walked back towards the Sail Inn because we got scared.”

A crew of arborists from Aussie Tree Services was called to remove the branch.

An Aussie Tree Services worker said the debris would be cleared this afternoon.

A City of Greater Geraldton spokeswoman said initial reports from an on-site arborist suggested the broken branch was healthy.

City of Greater Geraldton chief executive Ross McKim said there would be a full investigation into the incident.

He said the City of Greater Geraldton recently received a report on the tree from an independent arborist and a maintenance plan was being developed.

“We are relieved no one was injured and the popular spot will be re-opened as soon as possible,” he said.

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