Seedpod problem
Tucked away in Warragul is Meadow Crt, a quaint court shaded by large Liquidambar trees.
However, some residents say their safety is being compromised by the sweet gum's pesky seedpods.
Jenny O'Brien has lived in Meadow Crt for more than 30 years and says in the past 15 years the seedpods shed from the gums, and the corellas who feast on them, have become troublesome.
In time-stamped images provided to The Gazette, Mrs O'Brien's problem is clear. Each morning corellas flock to the sweet gums in Meadow Crt and feast on the seedpods, by the end of their meal thousands of seedpods are left strewn about the nature strip, on the road and on Mrs O'Brien's steeply inclined driveway and her front steps.
Each corella attack lasts an hour or two, and the mess is so great Mrs O'Brien says she has no choice but to rake and sweep the seedpods off her property or risk tripping and falling.
Mrs O'Brien says she cleans up her yard at least twice a day every day and is limited in her movement up and down her front yard.
"I feel like a prisoner in my own home," she says.
Liquidambar is a deciduous tree that can reach 25 metres high and spread to around 12 metres. They are known to have aggressive root systems.
Mrs O'Brien and other Meadow Crt residents claim the roots of the gums have caused sections of footpaths to be replaced in their street in the past 30 years and have interrupted both power and water supplies in their court and nearby Hillandale Rd.
Ms O'Brien's neighbours John and Judy
Williams say one of the gums that was overhanging their driveway was trimmed by the Baw Baw Shire Council in the past, leading to fewer seedpods in their driveway, however, their movement up the footpath toward Mrs O'Brien's house was limited due to the pesky pods.
Residents of Meadow Crt have contacted the shire to complain about the trees, but Ms O'Brien says more should be done.
She would like to see the trees removed, the corellas controlled, or - at least - the gum on her nature strip trimmed.
Acting director of community infrastructure David Hair confirmed council had received resident requests regarding trees in Meadow Crt.
"Currently all requests have been addressed with the exception of one which is pending an inspection.
"As part of our street tree maintenance program, council undertakes annual proactive inspections of street trees and undertakes pruning or removal works if required. The tree works may include pruning for clearances from road, footpath, crossovers, electrical wires, sight lines, removing defects etc. The trees in Meadow Crt and Hillandale Rd are coved by this program.
"Similarly, footpaths are proactively inspected as outlined in council's road management plan and residents can also contact council to request a footpath inspection.
"The removal of trees occurs if they are deemed to be deteriorating in health, and/or pose a risk to public safety, and/or required for removal due to infrastructure upgrades where there is no feasible alternative for tree retention," he said.
Mr Hair said council did not have a record of trees being removed for any of these reasons on Hillandale Rd or Meadow Crt.