Work to remove a mature fig tree at Rex Smeal Park in Port Douglas has stopped while a court matter is considered, Douglas Shire Council says. The council said no further removal work will take place before the matter returns to court in mid-November.
ABC Far North reported on 21 October that the Supreme Court granted an injunction after a local resident challenged the planned removal. The council's own update confirms that work has ceased and the matter is before the courts, but does not set out the court's reasons.
The exclusion zone around the site remains, and the Rex Smeal Park playground will stay closed for safety reasons. Visitors should follow the barriers and check council updates before planning to use that part of the park.
Before the legal challenge, the council said independent arborist assessments had identified structural defects in the tree and that removal was needed for public safety. The condition of the tree and any longer-term decision remain matters for the ongoing process; the pause does not settle those questions.
Sources: Douglas Shire Council update, 20 October 2026; ABC Far North briefing, 21 October 2026; Council's earlier removal notice.
Image disclosure: AI-generated conceptual editorial illustration. It is not a photograph of the actual tree, playground or court proceedings.
