MILL Park residents clamouring to have street trees pulled up should wait their turn, says one Whittlesea councillor.
Carbine Court residents petitioned Whittlesea council saying eighteen 40-year-old eucalyptus trees had caused flooding, accidents and injury in their street.
They said falling tree limbs had trapped residents in their homes and damaged property. The residents also blamed dropped leaves and branches for blocking drains and causing the street to flood.
Cr Mary Lalios has backed residents in their bid to have the trees axed, saying there was a 20-year history of tree-related safety issues.
But Cr Sam Alessi accused her of trying to “subvert proper process”.
“We have to make decisions for the whole municipality, not just to win votes from a few,” he said after a recent council meeting.
“You go to any part of the municipality with 60-year-old paperbarks and everyone wants them pulled out because they make a mess.”
Cr Alessi said the drainage problems at Carbine Court had been addressed by council workers and were a separate issue to the trees.
Councillors said requests to have trees replaced are widespread throughout Lalor, Epping and Thomastown. Cr Kris Pavlidis said the most common tree-related complaints were shedding leaves and branches, particularly in relation to older paperbarks and eucalypts, and flowering trees that exacerbated allergies. “I get approached by a lot of residents about trees on nature strips,” she said.
The council sent out 23 questionnaires to residents of Carbine Court asking them about the trees. All of the 17 responses favoured replacing existing trees with Wentworth flame trees.
The total cost of replacement would be $15,000.
The court will be considered for the council’s street tree renewal program for 2012-13.
