PARKED cars and trucks are wrecking the root systems of 100-year-old Moreton Bay figs at South Fremantle’s Wilson Park.

Local tree-lovers want the council to stop motorists parking at the spot, which is prized for its all-day shade.

John Watson says the figs are in the worst condition he’s seen in the 30 years he’s lived across the road.

“I’ve seen up to 40 vehicles take advantage of the shade, including a 10-wheeler prime mover,” he told the Herald.

“Since council has allowed people to park on the weekends and public holidays it has become open slather.

“The cars are compressing the soil and displacing the oxygen around the tree roots.”

He says the only exceptions to a parking ban should be vehicles like the Street Doctor and maintenance vehicles and “disciplined access on special occasions”.

“That would protect the trees and free up that area for legitimate park-users, who seem to be forgotten as things are.

“It would possibly involve an east-west row of bollards just far enough south of the two stand-alone figs for their root systems to be out of danger.

“The cars are compressing the soil and displacing the oxygen around the tree roots.”

“We don’t see how the rest of the park could be spared from overflow parking—it is a difficult situation.

Mr Watson says it wasn’t long ago that park-goers used to picnic under the figs.

Council corporate services chief Glenn Dougall says the days of parking under the figs may be numbered: “An allocation will be considered as part of the upcoming budget deliberations to provide landscaping on the park which would prevent vehicles from being able to access the area under or around the trees,” he said.

by BRENDAN FOSTER