Alan Richardson, pictured with fellow Timbarra Estate resident Harold Bretherton, said Casey Council has removed the wrong trees in the area. 77756 Picture: MEAGAN ROGERS
By LIA SPENCER
A BERWICK man says that Casey Council has conned Timbarra Estate residents by promising to remove large gum trees to a bid to increase safety.
Theodore terrace resident Alan Richardson said the Casey Council was treating them like fools after removing small trees and leaving the larger “less intrusive” trees.
After receiving several complaints and petitions from local resident, Casey Council agreed to remove 100 trees from six streets over three years, as well as 132 property clearances and a reduction of 50 canopies. The trees will be removed in Boree Court, Coolong Avenue Coowara Way, Glendale Crescent Theodore Terrace and Valley View Crescent and it will cost the council $171,000.
Many Timbarra Estate residents said the trees were shedding leaves and bark and many limbs have fallen on streets, houses and parked cars.
The trees have also soaked up moisture from their yards, leaving them with barren lawns and gardens.
Mr Richardson said the council failed to remove the large and dangerous trees that were causing problems to residents.
“I think we have been conned by the council by believing something magnificent was going to happen, but instead they cut down small trees which should have just been pruned, and the most offensive trees have been left,” Mr Richardson said.
“It seems like a cost measure. They treat us like absolute fools.”
City of Casey manager of parks and reserves Trevor Griffin said the trees were selected based on a number of criteria including non-performing trees, distance from infrastructure such as houses or fences, the number of trees on an individual nature strip and whether the trees were too close to intersections or drive crossings.
Mr Griffin said the removals were continuing and would be undertaken before the end of 2012.
Property line clearances and canopy reductions will also be undertaken on a further 182 trees in the next two years.
