Residents want “problematic” gum tree removed from Janus St in Tullamarine

A group of residents in Melbourne’s north want to remove a towering gum tree they say belongs “in a forest”, not on a nature strip.

Hume residents are rallying together to get the council to remove a “problematic” gum tree, which they say is “out of place” and should be “in a forest”. Photo: Himangi Singh

A community in Tullamarine is frustrated their calls to remove a “problematic” gum tree are falling on deaf ears.

Residents on Janus St have sent a joint letter to Hume City Council demanding that a “huge” gum tree be moved to a more suitable location before someone gets seriously hurt, a call they claim they have been making for more than 20 years.

The “problematic” gum tree on 7 Janus St in Tullamarine. Photo: Himangi Singh

They say the lone tree is threat and safety hazard, and fear its branches will break on a stormy and windy day and that aesthetically, it doesn’t match the other smaller trees on the street.

Local and petition organiser James Pantalone told the Herald Sun residents wanted to remove the tree because it was “out of place”.

“It’s not that we don’t want any trees in the street; we just want trees more suitable to suburban streets. This tree belongs in a forest,” he said.

“We live in a high-wind area with many children playing around. Some residents avoid sleeping in their front rooms, fearing the tree coming down; it’s a sense of danger.”

Mr Pantalone, who’s lived on the street for 30 years, said the council has dismissed their concerns.

“The council has replied the same generic response that the tree is healthy and has completely ignored all other valid points that meet council’s tree removal criteria,” he said.

“No one from the council has called me to discuss the matter. I call the customer service centre and ask them for someone to call me back, and no one ever does.”

A council spokeswoman said the tree had been assessed multiple times by several council-qualified arborists and did not meet the criteria for removal as per council policy.

“The most recent inspection on 15 January 2024 was undertaken by the co-ordinator urban forest and the city arborist with the tree structure assessed as sound and the tree deemed healthy,” she said.

“The assessment that the tree’s aesthetics are “low to negative” was not supported in the assessment.”

Mr Pantalone said the wild storms that hit Victoria on Tuesday were a perfect example of why gum trees should be removed from residential streets.

“Trees that councils have deemed safe have come down in the storm crushing cars and property. This tree is a major risk; why won’t the council listen and remove it,” he said.

It comes after several trees around Melbourne were uprooted after wild weather lashed on the state, causing significant damage.