By Brendan Rees
Casey council has decided to keep dozens of gum trees in a Lysterfield South neighbourhood despite residents arguing the trees posed a danger.
Following an arborist’s assessment of Wallangarra white gums around Hillside court, Panorama Court and Parkview Terrace, Casey councillors gave the tick of approval to retain 37 trees at their 19 November meeting.
Council believed the nature strip trees complied with its tree planting suitability and would only require remedial tree maintenance which is expected to be completed before the end of the year.
A further six trees will get the chop due to their poor health and structure.
It follows a petition of 19 signatures in April calling for the trees to be removed and replaced with suitable ones.
Head petitioner Peter Wardley, who earlier this year said branches up to three 3m long were dropping, was disappointment by council’s decision.
He said due to his age and current health, he wasn’t in a position to clean up the leaf and branch litter on his property which sometimes blocked drains and caused flooding.
“I am 68-years-old in need of two knee replacements and have seven (coronary artery) stents. How would they feel if I was their father or grandfather?” he said.
Councillors voted for the concerns raised in the petition to be referred to the policy review of guidelines and management of street trees with the development of an Urban Forest Strategy. A date for this review has yet to be announced.
According to a council report, it said by providing remedial tree maintenance to the 37 trees identified, “this should alleviate some of the concerns raised within the petition”.
Council also ruled five trees will require topsoil and grass seed to be spread around the base to cover exposed roots.
It was also found the gum trees “did not significantly impact the fire risk area” to the small areas that fuel loads could build up.
The report also said the shedding of foliage, flowers, fruit, seeds or small elements of deadwood by urban trees “is considered normal and not a basis for removal”.
Earlier this year, resident Donna Everard said she scarred her knee after tripping on an uneven footpath on a sidewalk off Hillside Court – believed to have been lifted by a tree root.
Speaking at the council meeting, Councillor Rosalie Crestani said “it wasn’t the entire outcome the residents wanted” but added a policy review would be an opportunity to “hear from the community” regarding nature strip tree related issues.
“Every time I hear nature strip concerns that community want to have a great input into some of those guidelines,” she said.
