Yarra Ranges Council places risky trees under closer scrutiny

A COUNCIL in Melbourne’s leafy outer east is taking a more proactive approach to dangerous trees after a falling limb tragically killed a teen two years ago.

n37le601 Yarra Ranges Council will remove about 500 Pine trees from Richards Reserve in Montrose because they are weeds. Cr ...

THE reporting of risky trees is being made easier as Yarra Ranges Council overhauls its tree management policy.

The council has made several key changes to its tree policy this year to meet a coroner’s recommendations in the wake of the death of Kilsyth teen James Winchester.

Mr Winchester, 19, was killed in June 2013 when a large section of a 15-metre tree fell and pierced his chest as he drove along Glasgow Rd, Kilsyth.

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Acting director of environment and engineering Robyn Mansfield said the council this year had included information about tree safety and the reporting of risky trees with annual rates notices mail-outs, which was one of the coroner’s recommendations.

She said the council had also included more tree information in their newsletters and through social media channels to further engage with the community.

Ms Mansfield said on the back of another recommendation, the council’s web content had been updated to provide more information on how to report potentially dangerous trees.

Council vehicles that carry out tree maintenance now displayed information and contact details on the side of the vehicles relating to tree reporting.

The tree that claimed James’ life.

Ms Mansfield said the aim of the changes was to encourage people to report problem trees and make it easier for them to do so.

The region has more than five million trees, and the council is receiving on average more than 6000 inquiries a year.

Yarra Ranges Council tree management team co-ordinator Paul Mechelen said the council responded to every inquiry it received about trees, including removing dangerous or dead branches and trees, providing advice about pest treatments, tree pruning and canopy reduction.

“Council prioritises tree work in accordance with the apparent risk,” Mr Mechelen said.

“Trees that pose a risk to public safety are dealt with as the highest priority, subject to work loads and available resources.”

For information on trees in the Yarra Ranges and how the reporting process works visit yarraranges.vic.gov.au/trees