WHEN A STORM hits and brings down trees it is usually damage to our homes we are most concerned with.

A large gum tree on the banks of the Condamine River on Churchill Dr toppled in Friday's storm, bringing with it the bees inhabiting its trunk.

Beekeeper John Craig yesterday worked with council workers to remove the tree and relocate the bees.

"We're going to remove the tree branches and get the section with the bees to relocate," Mr Craig said.

"It's not a good time of year to relocate them; it's cooler and there's not much flowering."

Mr Craig said the tree had two colonies of European bees, and also showed evidence of native bees.

He said he would use a smoker to pacify the bees and protect council workers, before removing the colonised section of the trunk.

"The bees will become less active when it cools down at night time, which will be the best time to move them" he said.

As a leisure beekeeper since 16, he describes his hobby as a rewarding activity.

"There's so much to learn observing these little insects working away building their homes," he said.

Mr Craig said introduced European bees cop flak for competing with declining native populations, but insists the humble honey bee is an important part of Australia's food industry.

"A lot of people are against the European bees," Mr Craig said.

"They've been here about 200 years since they were introduced, but so have other animals like cows." "We wouldn't get on without beef or poultry - without bees, we wouldn't have honey."