By Danielle Kutchel
“When I first moved here, I used to tell people I lived in paradise. Now, it feels like a rubbish dump.”
That’s how one resident of Wild Duck Way in Blind Bight explains the mess of gum tree debris strewn across his street.
Five established gum trees dominate the court of six houses and drop leaves, sap and bark over residents’ houses and the street on a daily basis – and residents are fed up with the mess.
They’re alarmed by the safety implications of it too, with the sap restricting visibility as it sticks to car windscreens.
“My daughter was driving and she rang me and said she had to pull over because the sap was so thick on her windscreen, but when she put water on it, it kept smudging,” one mother said.
She added that sap has ruined the window winding motor in her car and is now damaging the paintwork too.
Almost half of the street’s residents are elderly, and there are concerns that they may slip on the thick sap. Others are worried that the ageing trees might drop a limb onto somebody’s car.
The residents, who did not want their names published, agree the problem has gotten worse over the past six months.
Leaves and bark clog drains in the street, leading to flooding when it rains.
They’ve all contacted the council separately multiple times but say they’ve received no response.
“We’ve rung the council quite a few times, but they don’t react to anything,” one person said.
“We get annoyed and ring them, then we let it go, then we do it again. With the bark coming down now it’s got to the point where something’s got to be done.”
Some have tried cleaning the debris themselves, but they say they shouldn’t have to anymore.
A council street sweeper visits Wild Duck Way every seven weeks to collect up the leaves and bark.
A resident said he’s requested that the sweeper visit more frequently, but the council won’t deviate from its current schedule.
Now, the neighbours are in agreement: the trees must go.
They’ve called on Casey Council and Holt MP Anthony Byrne to removed the trees and replace them with a different native that is more suitable to the location.
“I will not accept a bandaid solution. The trees have got to go,” an angry resident said.
A spokesperson for Mr Byrne said the MP had contacted Casey Council on behalf of residents and was awaiting a response.
He said Mr Byrne would be happy to meet with residents to discuss the issue.
Manager city presentation at the City of Casey, David Richardson, said that the trees had been assessed by the council and an independent arborist.
“The dropping of foliage, flowers, fruit, seeds or small elements of deadwood by urban trees is considered normal and not a basis for removal of, or intervention with, an urban tree,” he said, adding it was normal for natives to shed leaves and bark during spring and summer.
“Street trees improve the amenity and liveability of urban environments and Council has no plans to remove the trees.
“Council’s current street sweeping frequency is an appropriate level for Wild Duck Way and we will continue to managed these trees in accordance with Council’s three-yearly proactive inspection and maintenance program,” he said.
