Queensland has a new environmental icon: it’s called Big Bob, stretches up more than 70 metres and is believed to be the state’s tallest tree.
Sunshine Coast Regional Council geographers used Geographic Information System (GIS) technology from Esri Australia to find the giant Eucalypt, nicknamed ‘Big Bob’ after Sunshine Coast Mayor Bob Abbot, which is around the same height as a 21-story building.
The discovery was made in Conondale National Park, about 50 kilometres west of Maroochydore, during a project to precisely map all vegetation on the Sunshine Coast.
Sunshine Coast Regional Council geospatial analyst Toby Clewett said the GIS-driven find cemented the Sunshine Coast’s reputation as a vibrant, green and diverse region.
“The project team strives to make our region Australia’s most sustainable, and Big Bob is our icon for that goal,” Mr Clewett said.
“Using GIS technology, our research uncovered Big Bob, which stands at almost 73 metres tall – the highest tree on record in Queensland.
“Knowing we have tree specimens this unique represents the pinnacle of environmental sustainability and underlines the work we’re doing to conserve them.”
Esri Australia business manager Anton Delporte said Council found the tree by using GIS technology to map aerial laser survey data.
“The survey results contained approximately seven billion laser measurements, which is an enormous amount of complex information,” Mr Delporte said.
“However, that data was meaningless until GIS technology was used to map and analyse the information and enable Council staff to view it in a meaningful way.
“The result was something like a digital forest – with different colours representing varying tree heights and canopy levels.
“Using GIS technology to investigate mapping information is much more efficient and accurate than producing a paper map – which in this case could have been 80 metres high and about the same width.”
Mr Clewett said the discovery of Big Bob would support council’s environmental management processes for monitoring, management and planning.
“The results achieved through the GIS analysis will be integrated into the new Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme and the Biodiversity Report Card for comprehensive baseline habitat mapping.”
Sunshine Coast Mayor Bob Abbot said having the tree nicknamed after him was an honour.
“The settlements of the Sunshine Coast were founded by forestry pioneers,” said Mr Abbot.
“It’s significant that such a unique tree can now provide a bridge between the past and council’s current vision of being Australia’s most sustainable region – vibrant, green and diverse.”
