IF YOU'VE ever taken time out to sit underneath a tree, if you ever had a treehouse or have had the privilege of watching a seedling transform into a tree - then keep reading.

In my humble opinion, there is never a good enough excuse to remove a mature tree to make way for concrete.

But again, it is the plan of our local council to do exactly that.

Pacific Ave in Tannum Sands will resemble a sterile and bare street come Monday next week.

A chainsaw army will descend on the avenue at 8am to remove 20 native paperbark trees that many locals have grown up with.

Yes, they plan to replace them with a 'suitable tree species' in good time.

But let's not be surprised when those trees are only planted to be cut down once they reach maturity too.

Have we reached a time and place when nature holds no worth to society?

Because it is a frightening day when we remove ourselves from our own ecosystems.

No other species on Earth is quite that dumb.

I understand Gladstone residents are largely apathetic to the call to protect our environment.

When you're fighting the biggest, most lucrative organisations in the world, it's easy to feel overpowered.

But this is the decision of council.

The council who were elected by us to represent the views of their people.

If the percentage of community members I have spoken to over the past week incensed by the plans actually have a voice in the eyes of the council, they will reconsider.

It's not yet too late. Email me to help me take action.