Dropping branches a worry for resident

A HAMLYN Heights woman says she is living in fear of a gum tree outside her home.

Debra Bacvar said the tree overshadows her house on Wilks St, with branches occasionally snapping and falling dangerously close to the property.

Ms Bacvar, who has lived in the home for 37 years, said she has been asking the City of Greater Geelong to trim or remove the tree since 2004.

“They should remove it. It’s dangerous. It scares me,” she said.

“During winter, the winds up here are phenomenal, the branches fall outside my bedroom window and near my car.

“I’m just at my wits’ end and I don’t know what else to do.”

Ms Bacvar said twigs and bark also piled up on her roof and in her driveway.

“It buggers up my guttering and that causes my house to flood,” she said.

“I’m nearly in my 60s; I can’t keep getting up on the roof (to clean it). In fact I don’t any more.

“And I’m sick of forking out for my gardener.”

City of Greater Geelong city services director Guy WilsonBrowne said the council did not consider leaf litter to be justification for removing “healthy” trees.

“The city has informed the resident our arborist has determined the tree does not meet the criteria for tree removal,” Mr Wilson-Browne said.

“In the past, the tree has been cut back but lopping trees creates rapid regrowth that is often poorly attached and can become a safety issue.

“At this time the City does not intend to lop or remove this tree but it will be monitored to ensure it remains in a safe and healthy condition.”