Staff promise best care for street trees

Councillor Glenn Taylor asked for a review into how trees were assessed after expressing concerns some trees were removed when they only needed pruning and others were ignored.

"The pine trees on Ploughmans Lane look like they'd come down at any moment but nothing's been done," he said.

However, community services director Scott Maunder said arborists made an assessment on every tree they removed.

"It's a lot easier for our staff to remove a branch and dispose of it than knock the whole tree down and grind it and replace it," he said.

"Whether a layperson thinks a tree should remain is immaterial - if it's dangerous, it needs to be removed."

Orange City Council's tree assessments are internal and external, with crew team leaders making the call on whether pruning is needed. 

If a tree is judged to require removal, two supervisors make the decision, unless it is a matter of urgency.

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