16th October 2010, 07:14 PM
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| Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane
Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane
Posts: 12,996
|  Victorians - Water Act and trees - Collusion
Guys I just read this ... Boronia tree removal too costly - Council - News - Knox Leader Quote:
16 Oct 10
A BORONIA woman who cares full-time for her elderly mother will have to fork out $2000 so that Knox Council can access a stormwater drain on her property.
Zandrine Mead said she was told by a council engineer on September 22 she had 28 working days to have a 30m-plus poplar tree removed from the northeast corner of her Dorset Rd property as it was blocking a stormwater drain.
A desperate Ms Mead contacted the Leader after receiving three separate quotes to remove the tree, each of $2000.
Ms Mead, who relies on a a fortnightly carer’s pension to look after mother Gaynor, 79, said it was the cost of the removal, not the removal itself she was objecting to. The tree was on the property before the family moved in 15 years ago.
Her father, Edward, died last year and she said the family budget was very tight.
“I have no issue with them cutting the tree down, but we are just struggling to make ends meet on a fortnightly basis, we just can’t afford it,” Ms Mead said. She believed it was up to council to do any maintenance.
Ms Mead said she was told that if the tree wasn’t removed within 28 working days, the issue could be taken to court.
Knox Council director of engineering and infrastructure Ian Bell said the stormwater flooding needed to be addressed as soon as possible, and said it suggested two non-profit organisations to remove the tree.
He also said the removal deadline given to the family had been extended from seven days to 28.
The issue is covered in the Water Act 1989. “Council is mindful of Ms Mead’s circumstances and has been proactive with advice to help her attend to the tree removal,” Mr Bell said.
Chandler Ward councillor John Mortimore said it was an unfortunate situation but the council could not waive the fee.
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