By KATH GANNAWAY
A GUMTREE at the centre of a community safety controversy will get the chop after Yarra Ranges councillors voted on Tuesday night (14 June) that it must go.
The councillors unanimously supported Cr Jim Child’s impassioned argument that it was a case where community safety had to be a priority.
Concerns about the tree at the Yarra Junction Recreation Reserve were first raised in January by local sporting clubs who argued its proximity to the netball, tennis and cricket facilities, and its propensity to drop limbs, presented an unacceptable risk.
The councillors were considering a planning application by Yarra Ranges Council’s Recreation Department to remove the tree, with a recommendation from the Planning Department that it should stay.
The recommendation was based on two assessments by council arborists that declared the 26-metre high manna gum was structurally sound, did not present an unacceptable risk and that there was no arboricultural reason to remove it.
Cr Child moved an alternate recommendation for the tree’s removal saying it was the second time it had been brought before the council and that there had been immense public concern expressed about the danger.
Calling out parts of the report that referred to a “perceived” danger of limbs falling, Cr Child said “It’s not a perceived danger, it’s a damn known danger”.
“Limbs have been falling,” he said, citing a letter from local netball co-ordinator, Nicki Bosen, about a branch that recently fell during the night.
“I have absolutely no doubt that someone would have been killed,” she said of the potential for a branch to fall during the day.
“Why wait for a disaster and a family’s life to be torn apart before something is done about it?” she said.
“Because sadly, if it is left there, that is a real possibility.”
Cr Child told the Mail it was a case of balance, and getting it right.
“You need a balanced decision between the environment, biodiversity and risk when there is community concern about the safety and risk issues, particularly in a high traffic area such as this,” he said.
“The prescriptions are there and while I agree with the assessment that it is a healthy tree, I totally disagree with the assessment by the arborist that it presented a low to medium risk.
“The community had genuine concerns, and I had genuine concerns, and I believe they should have been given more weight.”
Cr Andrew Witlox supported Cr Child’s motion, saying he was pleased that a councillor had been able to take action on behalf of the community and break through the underlying bureaucracy.
“I do foreshadow that there may be one or two more motions to come in the future so that councillors can act on behalf of our community,” he said, citing council’s Tree Management Plan.
