By Jesse Graham
A troublesome tree stump has been removed by council after complaints from a local businessman, who said it blocked drivers’ views and was at risk of falling.
Healesville businessman, Garry Christie, contacted the Mail after asking the Yarra Ranges Council to remove a tree stump from the corner of Walkers Lane and Wilson Street, where two bridges meet.
He said he contacted the council to remove the stump, which stood tall enough to obscure drivers’ views of the adjacent bridge, during works to rebuild one of the bridges.
Mr Christie said he was told in 2014 that access to the site was too poor for council staff to remove the stump and when he got in contact earlier during the bridge works, council sent out an arborist to inspect the stump.
He raised concerns that the stump would fall and damage the newly-upgraded bridges, or hurt someone on them.
Responding to questions from the Mail on Friday, 13 January, Yarra Ranges Council’s director of Environment and Engineering, Mark Varmalis, said staff had removed the stump earlier that day.
“Council’s trees crew removed the stump this morning as part of the final works associated with the bridge upgrade,” Mr Varmalis said.
In response to Mr Christie’s concerns, Mr Varmalis earlier said the stump “was not dangerous to people or infrastructure”, and that arborists “must assess all trees before they are removed”.
“Our crews needed adequate and safe access to remove it. This was not possible during previous phases of construction,” he said.
“Removal works have been done by our trees crew and therefore it is part of our routine operations. We hired a contract excavator to assist which cost approximately $450.”
Mr Christie said the stump’s removal “rectified a past wrong”.
“I guess the upside is that it’s finally been removed,” he said.
