Motion to relocate gum trees – known to drop branches – from Grote St and Prospect Rd has failed

Two people have been killed by falling branches this summer. But a push to relocate 100 newly planted gums away from footpaths has failed.

A motion to relocate potentially deadly gum trees was declined during Tuesday night’s Adelaide City Council meeting, but it will not deter those fighting for change.

ACC’s dominant Team Adelaide faction, led by Councillor Alex Hyde, put forward a motion to relocate around 100 small gums that had been planted in the last three months along Grote St and Prospect Rd.

The spotted gums (corymbia maculata), which can grow to 40m in their natural environment, but only 20m to 30m in the city, have the potential to kill due to their ability to shed branches, according to Cr Hyde.

“They are not a problem right now of course, but in 10 or 15 years time they will be a real problem,” he said.

“Putting trees along heavily patronised footpaths and roads is where we must think much more about safety.”

Spotted gums can drop limbs in hot and dry conditions and Mr Hyde said as climate change worsened, this would become more common in Adelaide.

A tree limb fell on a parked car on South Terrace, Adelaide, on 15 December 2020. Picture: Caleb Bond

In November last year a branch fell on a moving car at Stirling, killing the driver Seymour teacher and mother Judy Ditter.

On Saturday, December 13, last year a man was crushed to death when a branch fell on his pergola and two days later a tree crushed a car on South Terrace.

“The community are concerned about this issue, ultimately they are losing out on this decision,” Cr Hyde said.

He said the council’s failure to pass the motion was “frustrating” as the desires of ratepayers were not met.

“I’ve received an outpouring of support from the community for sensible regulation,” Cr Hyde said.

The failure to pass the motion last night is just another road bump in the faction’s plan to have the trees relocated.

Cr Hyde said the council had “kicked the can down the road” and the faction is “definitely not done on this issue”.

The ACC administration said the trees cannot be moved partly due to cost, which they estimate to be from $150,000 to $324,000.

But Cr Hyde said he received a quote from an independent arborist, who would do the job for $92,000.

A council spokesman told The Advertiser, a full response to the plan would be prepared, with expert opinion sought.