Trees to be removed after one fell on parked cars

A stand of about seven trees is to be removed in the City’s green belt after one of the trees fell onto parked cars today.

Acting Parks Manager Michele Frey said high winds caused the tree to fall at about 12.45pm on Victoria Avenue.  The tree fell onto several parked cars but no one was injured.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area of Kelvin and Gala Streets and Victoria Avenue, as the remaining trees in that stand are being urgently removed.

There may be some road closures and diversions in place. It is expected the work may take until about 8pm tonight.

Ms Frey said Parks and Reserves staff carried out testing of the trees every six months, and the tree which fell had shown no signs of disease or rot.

The tree had been completely uprooted with its root ball intact, which suggested that the high winds were to blame.

“Unfortunately, we’ve been advised by staff that the uprooting of this particular tree has compromised the root system of the entire stand of trees,” Ms Frey said. “This means that, for safety reasons, we must remove the remaining trees in the immediate area.”