By JESSE GRAHAM
DESTRUCTION may be a wind-gust away for a Healesville resident, who harbours fears of falling tree limbs on her home, but the council said heavy pruning could make matters worse.
Bookley Scopel contacted the Mail late last year with concerns for a group of large trees near her home, on Glenfern Road and River Street, Healesville.
Ms Scopel said that the trees surrounding her home had often dropped exceptionally large limbs, with one crushing a neighbour’s fence, another blocking access to a garage and many more littering the streets with debris.
She said that, on windy nights, she takes her children to sleep in the lounge room of her home, just in case more tree limbs fall.
Ms Scopel said that she had contacted the council to ask for the trees to be heavily pruned, in order to eliminate potentially dangerous limbs, but that the council refused.
“They need to be properly pruned and maintained,” she said.
“They’re an icon for the street – I’m not saying remove them all, but just make them safe for everybody,” she said.
Yarra Ranges Council’s Director of Environment and Engineering Mark Varmalis said the trees in the area have been inspected twice recently, and found to be in good health, though some have been recommended for pruning.
“(The) River Street and Glenfern Road area has been flagged for light pruning,” he said.
“A resident contacted council wanting the trees in the area to be heavily lopped – this can make the trees very dangerous, as they become more prone to decay and regrowth is weakly attached and can easily fall.”
Mr Varmalis said trees across the municipality have been affected by strong winds and heat, which can both cause trees to drop limbs.
