Townhouse built within arm’s reach of gum tree in Hectorville
It defies beleaf, but you could reach out of this townhouse’s window and touch this tree looming over it. Locals worry that doesn’t bode well for the old river red gum.
East, Inner Suburbs & Hills
Don't miss out on the headlines from East, Inner Suburbs & Hills. Followed categories will be added to My News.
When John Williamson sang Home Among the Gum Trees this probably wasn’t the lifestyle he had in mind.
A townhouse in Hectorville has been built so close to a river red gum tree its branches are touching the property, upsetting residents who are concerned about the tree’s fate.
But the developer says he has taken all necessary steps to ensure the tree has a long future and has no intention of cutting it down.
The townhouse is among six two-storey properties being built on a 1100 sqm block on the corner of Montacute and Hectroville Roads, which was formerly occupied by a single-storey heritage-listed house.
Aerial photographs of the site taken by Athelstone resident Aussie Kanck, 73, who has been documenting the changing impact of infill on Campbelltown Council area, show the tree’s canopy shadowing the frame of the partially built house.
“The branches were in the way when workers were trying to put the rafters in and they were having to move them,” the husband of former SA Democrats leader Sandra Kanck said.
“Why didn’t they leave the corner block empty and have a community garden rather than slam another house in there?”
He joked that the developers were perhaps building a “grounded tree house”.
Campbelltown Council area is undergoing significant urban renewal owing to zoning changes – amended last month – allowing blocks as small as 150 sqm.
Concern about the tree’s future has been basis of discussion on a Love Campbelltown Facebook page.
David Desteno wrote he could “not believe my eyes” when he saw how close the tree was to the building.
“I wonder how they are going to put up the roof without significant cutting back of branches,” he said.
Another resident Mardi Espinoza said she could not “wrap my head around how this has gone ahead”.
Ward councillor Anna Leombruno told The Advertiser she was surprised that the house was being built so close to the tree.
“When we started seeing the building going up we felt it was a bit close for comfort to the tree,” she said.
The developer, who declined to be named, said he had always worked towards keeping the tree.
“From a developer’s point of view I have no interest in not seeing that tree prosper,” he said.
“We have two arborists’ reports that said if we have a tree protection zone and don’t cut into any of the main roots, and we haven’t, there shouldn’t be any problem with the tree in the long term.”
He said that advice had been backed up by the council’s arborist.
He said he had spent an extra $4000 to raise the concrete the slab of the townhouse to prevent builders cutting into the tree’s roots.
He said the trees’s canopy would be trimmed back to keep it away from the house.
“This will probably set a precedent for other developments and how close (trees) are to houses,” he said.
Campbelltown Council has lost six per cent of its tree canopy cover in the past decade mainly on private land owing to increased urban infill.
The Advertiser has sought comment from the council.