Balgowlah: Electricity fail Treehouse deathtrap removed from street

It seemed a good idea to build a kids’ treehouse on a quiet backstreet nature strip — but it could have had fatal consequences. SEE THE SHOCKING PIX

Electricity authorities feared that a child could have been killed after a treehouse was built just centimetres from live high-voltage powerlines on public land on Sydney’s northern beaches. Picture: Ausgrid

Shocking pictures have emerged of a Sydney suburban deathtrap — a children’s treehouse built just centimetres from live high-voltage powerlines.

Experts say a decision by a group of locals to build the fun playhouse on a public nature strip in a quiet backstreet on the northern beaches could have ended in tragedy.

The images released to the Manly Daily by electricity distributor Ausgrid show the roof of the treehouse at Balgowlah almost touching the live wires. Ausgrid declined to name the street so as not to embarrass the locals.

In September last year Ausgrid released another shocking photo of a kids’ cubbyhouse built around a metal power pole in a backyard at Seaforth.

An Ausgrid team noticed the play equipment was connected to a live powerline and were forced to cut power to the site to make the cubby house safe.

This unauthorised construction at Balgowlah, on public land owned by Northern Beaches Council, was spotted by a eagle-eyed Ausgrid staffer out for a rode on his bike on Sunday, January 10.

Power had to be switched off after an Ausgrid crew found this cubby house built around a power pole in a Seaforth backyard. Picture: Ausgrid

He notice that the treehouse had been built into the fork of a large tree, just underneath hard-to-spot black powerlines.

The Ausgrid employee knocked on the door of the closest home to warn of the danger, but there was no answer. He immediately reported the treehouse to officials at Ausgrid’s safety team who then notified the council.

The treehouse was then sealed off, warning signs were put up and special black and yellow “tiger tail” protection was placed around the live wires.

Council workers tore the treehouse down on Wednesday last week.

Ausgrid confirmed that it spoke to a resident who said the treehouse was built by multiple people for local children to enjoy.

But Ausgrid’s general manager (Field Operations), Sam Sofi, said the incident was a timely reminder that people needed to be aware of the dangers of live wires in all situations – not just after storms.

“What started out as innocent fun for local kids could very easily have become a tragedy if someone had come into contact with those live wires,” Mr Sofi said.

“We understand it’s school holidays and kids are looking for fun and adventure but the last thing we want is for someone to be seriously hurt or even killed because they came into contact with a live wire.

“It’s just luck one of our employees happened to spot the hazard and did the right thing and reported it.”

Mr Sofi said Ausgrid did not want to be the “fun police” and stop children building forts and climbing trees.

“But we just urge parents to check where their kids are playing and stay clear of power poles and power lines.”

Northern Beaches Council CEO Ray Brownlee said building treehouses on nature strips, or other areas managed by the council, was illegal and fines and orders to remove the structures could be issued.

Mr Brownlee pointed out that issues and hazards associated with treehouses include the tree species used; height of the structure: unsafe materials used; strength of the tree; danger to pedestrians; injury to the tree and; damage to animal habitats as well as proximity to hazards such as roads, footpaths, powerlines and water sources.

“Treehouses can be great fun, but they can also be hazards and have no place on council- managed nature strips. We urge all residents to observe this rule not only for their own safety but also for the safety of others.”