Above: Blind 87-year-old Tecoma resident Dawn Shaw stands with fallen branches from her old cypress tree.By Ed Merrison
LOCAL storms caused potential danger from falling trees last week, but the council has warned it is up to residents to monitor trees at risk and to pay for necessary measures.
Shire of Yarra Ranges coordinator of trees and bushland Paul Mechelen said trees on private property are the responsibility of residents.
If a tree looks to be a risk, it is up to the resident to call the council and request an assessment from a qualified arborist.
The cost of the assessment is $50, and it is up to the landowner whether to take heed of the arborist’s advice. Any subsequent action will come at the resident’s expense.
Mr Mechelen said there was no policy in place for the regular assessment of trees on council land, but that members of the community who saw a risk should contact the council.
Emerald SES reported a number of fallen trees but no casualties after heavy rains on the night of Tuesday, 6 December.
Among those incidents was a tree that fell across a Belgrave South driveway.
The resident was left housebound until the SES cleared the obstruction on Wednesday afternoon.
In Tecoma, large branches of an old cypress tree fell in the garden of blind 87-year-old resident Dawn Shaw, about eight metres from the house and a couple of metres from her neighbour’s fence.
Ms Shaw said she did not know what to do with the tree, having previously spent $600 on trying to make it safe.
Neighbour Ian Higgs said the same tree had lost large branches in storms earlier in the year, some of which landed on and destroyed part of his property.
“If there’s another storm like last night, we’ll get some more down,” he said.
Concerned the debris might prove to be a fire risk, Ms Shaw called the council when she discovered last week’s damage.
The SES eventually cleared the fallen limbs, but Ms Shaw was left not knowing what to do with the old tree.
“I love trees, but I’m starting to hate them,” she said.
