A ROW of large, established plane trees in Bradley St could be destined for the chop.
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At their meeting last Tuesday, councillors gave in-principle support for the removal of up to eight trees, some at the front of Goulburn Mazda.
Only Cr Robin Saville voted against the move.
“I’m getting concerned about the number of trees coming down in Goulburn,” he said.
“I very much regret their loss. Goulburn is becoming quite bare and I think a bit of green around the place makes a city far more attractive and livable. I hope we don’t see more reports like this.”
It’s the second time the dealership’s owner Kieran Davies has tried to convince councillors of the trees’ removal. His first request in 2011 was rejected by councillors.
But this time he appears to have their ear.
The majority voted to request detailed plans of advanced replacement species, brick surrounds and removal costs before making a final decision. Staff will work with Goulburn Mazda on a design and report back to councillors.
In a letter to operations director, Matt O’Rourke, Mr Davies stated the damage to the Council’s and the dealership’s infrastructure from “the offending plane trees” was clear.
“In the last summer downpour our property was again inundated with stormwater purely because the drainage system is choked with tree roots,” he wrote.
He tendered photos of a water logged yard and workshop.
Mr Davies told the Post the premises flooded every summer following heavy rain. “Last January the workshop pits flooded, the water was waist to neck high and there was oil floating around everywhere,” he said.
The business has also sustained damage to concrete slabs.
The expense aside, Mr Davies argued there was a better long-term solution.
He estimated the trees were more than 30 years old but only became a problem when the street was re-sealed and the tree roots “went looking for water.”
Council installed tree root barriers some six years ago but two years later, the problem flared again.
Mr Davies said when Council dug out stormwater pipes four years ago, the roots were “huge.” Burrowing into small cracks, they had managed to prise apart pipes.
He advocates removing the entire row of trees, including those at the side of Target, saying they simply weren’t suited to the urban environment.
“A gentleman today tripped over a crack in the footpath caused by the roots, fell and smashed his face,” he said on Thursday.
Two weeks ago he claimed a delivery truck hit and brought down a branch that could have easily fallen on a passerby.
Mr Davies has offered to pay for an advanced replacement species, an upright pear or Pyrus Calleryana Chanticleer, their early maintenance and bull-nosed plant surrounds. The trees would be about five metres tall.
Underneath, he’s proposing to plant a Chinese style jasmine.
Council would fund the trees’ removal.
“I get that there’s a timeline but if you put in trees of a decent size and not spindly little things, in 10 years’ time, people won’t even know,” he said.
“Just because it’s a change to the landscape, it doesn’t mean it won’t be better.”
Cr Margaret O’Neill endorsed the in-principle removal, saying it would also fix a dangerous situation for motorists near the Bradley/Auburn St roundabout.
Mr O’Rourke said the work would fix ongoing tree maintenance issues and beautify this section of Bradley St.