'I'm horrified': Giant tree branches fall on playground at local park
A couple from the inner Sydney city suburb of Paddington have accused Woollahra Council of refusing to let them clear a tree growing on their property that has been dropping large branches in a local park.
Ken Karvin and Jane Benson spoke to Ben Fordham on 2GB on Wednesday about their four-year battle to have the lemon scented gumtree that hangs partly over the neighbouring Cooks Paddock Park removed.
"I'm horrified, it's causing a huge amount of anxiety for myself, my neighbours and the people in the park," Ms Benson told Mr Fordham of the tree. The tree variety is also commonly known as a widow maker.
The couple told the radio presenter that they had watched the tree drop huge branches in the park for years and fear it’s only a matter of time before one of the branches falls on a person.
"We were in the William Street festival a few years ago and one landed while children were playing in the park during the festival," Ms Benson said.
The couple said they had petitioned the council several times for the removal since 2015 but it had been rejected each time.
Mr Karvin claimed that the branches are not only a danger to those in the public park but also to themselves.
"One of those branches almost landed on me when I was sweeping the yard a few months back," he said.
Woollahra Council gave a statement to Nine News stating that an assessment of the trees in the area had recently been carried out by a qualified arborist and found no safety hazards, including the trees in Ms Benson and Mr Karvin’s property.
"A further inspection of the property owner's trees carried out by council staff today found there to be no risk to the public,” Woollahra Council said.
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