Council won’t be swayed

By Shaun Inguanzo
THE Shire of Yarra Ranges has thrown its support behind its tree removal criteria despite a tested and approved tree almost crushing a Kallista family two weeks ago.
This week’s comments come in the wake of last week’s Mail report detailing how Kallista resident Janet Poulton and her three young children narrowly avoided being crushed by a 100foot councilowned blackwood tree deemed by council officers to be safe.
The Poultons, including husband Darren, were angry the council did not remove or permit the family to remove the tree even though the Poultons feared for their children’s safety.
Council analyses from 2002 and 2003 showed the tree was of environmental significance and, despite scattered rotting, was safe to keep standing.
Council manager of community relations James Martin said this week the incident was ‘unusual’ because the tree snapped at the trunk and not at the base.
But he said the council would not make any changes to its policy despite the incident.
“We feel the criteria is appropriate,” he said.
“We will continue to monitor and make sure our policies are most effective but we are dealing with so many random factors.
“Normally a tree fails lower down.”
When asked if the council would have approached the issue differently had the family been injured or killed, Mr Martin said the council would not speculate.
“That is a real hypothetical question,” he said.
“Unfortunately there is absolutely no guarantee (of a tree not falling) if you are living in an environment where there are trees.
“If people want a 100 per cent guarantee then a forested area is not the right area for them.”
But Ms Poulton said the council’s removal criteria was out of touch with residents.
“I can understand it is part of living in the Hills but what I consider a dangerous tree and what they consider a dangerous tree obviously is not the same,” she said.
Ms Poulton said since the incident she had been told of many similar cases by other residents.
The family is gathering quotes for repairs to their property to forward to the shire’s claims department.