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‘Frightened to be in my garden’: Council won’t remove massive gum trees at Clearview despite falling limbs

A council has refused to deal with two 25m trees that drop limbs on nearby properties, with one elderly woman now too frightened to walk in her garden.

Shirley Handke, 84, is concerned about getting hurt by two giant red gums that drop branches Picture: Kelly Barnes
Shirley Handke, 84, is concerned about getting hurt by two giant red gums that drop branches Picture: Kelly Barnes

A council has refused to cut down two large gum trees that have left an elderly woman scared to even walk in her front garden.

Port Adelaide Enfield Council in May voted to keep the two significant trees on Melrose Ave, Clearview, after an independent report found a low risk of branch failure.

Resident Shirley Handke, whose home sits next to the trees, said she has experienced several near misses from falling branches, including one a month ago.

“I’m frightened to be out the front in my garden because of these branches. I was out there a few times and I just moved when they fell,” the 84-year-old said.

“If I had been there, they would have killed me.”

Earlier this year, Melrose Ave residents told council of their fears during a meeting, prompting an assessment of the two trees, which are estimated to be nearly 25m tall.

The two gum trees residents fear will kill someone with falling branches. Picture: Keryn Stevens
The two gum trees residents fear will kill someone with falling branches. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Both the council’s senior arborist and an independent arborist determined the river red gums did not meet removal criteria outlined in council’s tree management policy, which recommends removal if the tree presents “an unacceptable level of risk to a person or property”.

A large tree branch dropped by one of the gum trees in January of 2023. Picture: supplied.
A large tree branch dropped by one of the gum trees in January of 2023. Picture: supplied.

Documents stated because the trees were ‘significant’, council would need development approval to remove them, which was “highly unlikely to be provided”.

Councillor Barbara Clayton said the arborist report didn’t give residents any assurance.

“We should not be exposing our community to risk – because even low risk is still a risk,” she said.

In April, resident Vikash Patel said he was worried for they safety of his young sons.

“Sometimes it’s so dangerous … it’s dropping any time,” he said.

Over the past two years, residents have reported four or five fallen branches to council because they were too big to move.

A council spokesperson said an informed decision was made “based on the facts and technical information presented in the report after a thorough investigation by professional arborists and our parks and gardens team”.

“We actively monitor and maintain all trees on public land within the City of PAE on an ongoing basis and if any tree is deemed unsafe we will undertake remedial action,” the spokesperson said.

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/frightened-to-be-in-my-garden-council-wont-remove-massive-gum-trees-at-clearview-despite-falling-limbs/news-story/149b07338d46651c5846792c5b0283d2