Frank Pangallo calls for trees overhanging major Adelaide roads to be cut back

An MP has demanded councils urgently audit and cut back “risky” trees overhanging major Adelaide roads to prevent more tragedies.

An Upper House MP has highlighted five dangerous roads in Adelaide where he says overhanging tree branches present a huge risk to motorists

And he’s called on West Torrens Council to immediately cut down trees planted in the middle of a busy road.

Independent MP Frank Pangallo said councils and the state government must urgently audit overhanging trees on roads under their responsibility and cut back ageing gum trees that overhang major Adelaide roads to prevent more tragedies.

Multiple large limbs have fallen across the city - and elsewhere in the state - over the past two weeks, including one that tragically killed 22-year-old Indonesian university student Alifia Soeryo in the Adelaide Uni soccer ground in the parklands on February 7.

In January, single mum Anna Frances-Wood and her daughter were hit by a falling branch at a Mount Barker playground, putting Ms Frances-Wood in hospital with serious leg injuries, while her daughter narrowly escaped being hurt.

Overhanging branches on Goodwood Road, at Cumberland Park. Picture: Frank Pangallo

Mr Pangallo said the tragic death of Ms Soeryo was “probably avoidable”.

“Adelaide City Council had inspected the tree after concerns were raised but decided to not act,” Mr Pangallo said.

“Such inaction highlights the attitude to trees by local government wonks. They prefer to hug them instead of making calls to remove them or maintain suspect limbs.”

There have been at least four major incidents in the past four years including the freak fall that killed Seymour College teacher, Judy Ditter, 59, when a cottonwood tree on private property fell on her car as she drove past.

An overhanging branch at South Terrace and Peacock Road in the CBD. Picture: Frank Pangallo

A huge gum branch that came down last Saturday on the corner of Payneham and Portrush roads. Picture: Frank Pangallo

Mr Pangallo said he’d written to write to local mayors after that accident, calling for more trees near roads to be cut back.

“I have been raising this issue for six years yet avoidable incidents continue to happen,” Mr Pangallo said.

“You only need to travel along some very busy main roads like Goodwood Rd at Daw Park, Belair Rd at Mitcham, Greenhill Rd at Tusmore and Burnside and Henley Beach Rd at Torrensville to see prime examples where tragedies are waiting to happen.

“Then there is the Wilderness School sports park on the corner of Cross and Belair roads lined with ‘widow-maker’ gum trees.

“A year doesn’t go by without a big heavy branch coming down somewhere there. Luckily, they haven’t fallen when the kids are there or on southbound or westbound cars, heading south.”

Mr Pangallo said West Torrens Council should remove gum trees planted in the middle of Henley Beach Road at Torrensville.

Overhanging branches at the intersection of Cross and Belair roads, Walford Parks playing fields. Picture: Frank Pangallo

“They can, and will, one day, drop heavy limbs on passing cars and their roots are already damaging the road infrastructure. It will only worsen,” he said.

“I just hope the council – and other councils like them - reviews the decision and chops them down before a tragedy occurs – and it will eventually if nothing is done now.

“They’re also causing damage to roads, median strips and infrastructure and pose a risk to powerlines.

West Torrens Council said the trees in question were planted by the Department of Transport as part of a road-widening project.

Mr Pangallo said councils were right to increase and protect tree canopies to counter climate change.

“But it shouldn’t come at a risk to people using council reserves; driving on roads that have huge limbs overhanging lanes,” he said.

“Planting gum trees in these places was the wrong choice. There is no place for such types of trees on our roads and they should be removed before another tragedy occurs.

Adelaide City Council declined to comment, citing a continuing investigation into the fatal tree fall at the soccer grounds.

A state government spokesperson said councils were responsible for planting and managing trees on their roads, parks and gardens.