Seaholme residents have been left seeing red after three trees in their street were cut down. 75597 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By Vanessa Chircop
A HOBSONS Bay City Council decision to cut down three trees has left Seaholme residents crying foul.
The first of the Agonis and Willow Myrtle trees located on Beach St was cut down in February 2011, with the second and third being removed in early January this year.
Resident, Judith Kirkman, said she was furious the trees were removed and believed they were only cut down to appease a development on the corner of Beach St and Garden Grove.
“The council turned down the developer’s application, but it went to VCAT and was overturned,” she said.
Ms Kirkman said she believed the trees were obstructing the four two-storey dwelling’s beach view, which was the real reason for their removal.
According to the VCAT decision in August 2010, a “Tree Protection Zone” was to be established to protect the street trees from the development.
The order stated, “no excavation is allowed within the Tree Protection Zone except with the consent of council’s Town Planning Department and under the supervision of a qualified arborist”.
Hobsons Bay director works and assets Phillip McDonald said the trees had been monitored and were inspected for the first time in August 2010.
The inspection “revealed that they were beginning to show signs of fragility,” he said.
“A further inspection in February 2011 showed the three trees had begun to split, and in the interests of public safety it was decided that these trees required removal.
“In January 2012, an inspection by the council’s arborist found both of the remaining trees were becoming unsafe and removal was required.”
Despite this, Ms Kirkman said she was not satisfied but the council’s response.
“I understand trees get old and sick and need to come down, but they (the council) should notify surrounding residents – we need to be part of the process of taking down trees,” she said.
“The council is very considerate of tree removal and replacement and therefore the locations where these trees have been removed will be placed on the street planting program for the upcoming season,” he said.
“Anyone destroying, cutting, trimming or pruning a tree without permission from an authorised officer risks an on-the-spot fine of $400.”
