Insufficient root space| lucky escape| tree topples

Eric Frei · 8th March 2010, 11:33 PM

This one is in Darlinghurst Sydney and happened today. What did this tree have, maybe a 1m wide garden bed hemmed in by concrete, of course it topples on it's weakest axis.

Lucky escape as tree crushes car in inner-city Sydney | The Daily Telegraph

Quote:

A 15M TREE collapsed on five cars in inner-Sydney this morning with locals saying it is ''extraordinary'' no one was killed or injured.

The tree fell near the corner of Crown and Cathedral streets in Darlinghurst about 11.20am, with the bulk of its thick branch landing on a silver Holden Barina.

The owner hasn't returned to their car yet.

Behind it was another small white car that has sustained minor damage, while three other cars parked across the street appear to have no structural damage.

The owners of the East Sydney Hotel say they have been contacting the City of Sydney Council for weeks to complain about a leak.

"Our cellar was flooded two weeks ago and since then there has been some leaking,'' hotelier Harald Muller said.

"When I saw this morning how raised the asphalt was, I thought something like this could happen.

"It is just extraordinary that no one was killed.

"(Wife) Trish and I have been worried about the tree for some time, given how top-heavy it is."

Andrew McCarroll returned to his 4WD after having coffee with his brother - only to find his car "hidden" under the tree's branches and leaves.

"It was definitely a shock to come down the street and see that,'' he said.

"From what I can see my car has no structual damage, just a lot of scratches."

No police or fire brigade officers came to the scene - and it took almost 90 minutes for the first chain-sawing to begin.

Eric Frei · 11th March 2010, 11:43 PM

Some more, same incident

20m tree falls in CBD and crushes cars | The Daily Telegraph

Quote:

THE little orange Datsun bought second-hand for $3000 just a few months ago was Zoe Michalski's pride and joy.

It had been repainted, kitted out with some new body work and insured against fire and theft.

But unfortunately for Ms Michalski, the car was not covered for the unlikely event that a 20m tall celtis tree might topple across a busy CBD street and crash on to the bonnet.

"It's a little bit funny really. This is the first time I've driven to work this year, so you could say I'm pretty unlucky," Ms Michalski, 26, an interior designer, said yesterday.

The car was one of five parked in Crown St, Woolloomooloo, that were were in the path of the falling tree about 11.20am.

The rear of a silver Holden Barina parked beside the tree was flattened.

Andrew McCarroll, the owner of a black BMW that was also damaged when the tree fell, was shocked to find his car among the wreckage.

"I came down the street and all I could see was the tree, and not my car," Mr McCarroll said.

"I could barely make it out."

A City of Sydney council spokeswoman said yesterday it was "unclear" what caused the tree to topple.

However, the owner of the nearby East Sydney Hotel Harald Muller said he had been trying to get the council to remove the tree for more than 10 years.

Mr Muller said the tree's roots had damaged a pipe in the footpath, causing it to leak.

When wild weather hit Sydney about two weeks ago, the leaky pipe and excess water flooded the pub.

Mr Muller contacted council staff, who sent workers to clear the drains on the street but water kept pouring into the pub's basement.

Mr Muller said he rang the council and Sydney Water again about 10.45am yesterday when he noticed that the footpath had cracked around the tree. Workers again arrived, but within 15 minutes the tree fell, narrowly missing a bus and several cars travelling on Crown St.

"It's lucky nobody was killed," Mr Muller said.

Tree loppers worked for several hours yesterday to clear the branches.

By 4.30pm, the massive trunk was lifted off the flattened Barina.

A Sydney Water spokesman said repairs were expected to be completed to the leaky pipe today.

Bowani Siam · 12th March 2010, 08:49 PM

Drove past that tree all the time and always wondered when it would finally come down. There are a few like that around Sydney. Always amazes me when such little consideration is taken for the root system. Foresight, hello?!?!

Apocalypsse · 13th March 2010, 11:57 AM

Thats a whopper of a tree. Are things like this going to become more common, large trees in city streets toppling because they lack the root space, constantly have their roots cut back, etc?

Quote:

No police or fire brigade officers came to the scene - and it took almost 90 minutes for the first chain-sawing to begin.

Im surprised no Police were on scene. But I love the wording of the second part, '...it took almost 90 minutes for the first chain-sawing to begin.

Eric Frei · 13th March 2010, 04:59 PM

Yeah, well it is the streets of Sydney so people chuck out the fire extinsguishers in their cars and mount a chainsaw or baseball bat.

12th March 2010, 08:49 PM	#3
Bowani Siam Mature tree Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sydney Posts: 292	Re: Insufficient root space\| lucky escape\| tree topples Drove past that tree all the time and always wondered when it would finally come down. There are a few like that around Sydney. Always amazes me when such little consideration is taken for the root system. Foresight, hello?!?!

13th March 2010, 04:59 PM	#5
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Insufficient root space\| lucky escape\| tree topples Yeah, well it is the streets of Sydney so people chuck out the fire extinsguishers in their cars and mount a chainsaw or baseball bat. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

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