Happy experience with council

xelasnave · #1 22-05-2015, 08:02 PM

I arrived back in Sydney to find a tree that was leaning over the house seemed to have moved.
It looked bad.
I had been leaning for a while and I had put off doing anything because to me it seemed I would need a big expensive crane to get at it.
A mate of a mate gave me a quote for only $1200
He would climb the tree...no crane.
Great.
But now getting council approval was before me.
I range the council but could not speak to the man who would ring me.
No return call so I went to the council.
He was out but I used my charm on the girls in the office.
Get some photos so I did.
Asked for the form and filled it in.
Waited 10 minutes and my new lady friend returned saying..I will ask scsi to come down later this afternoon...and we are waving the few.
I got back and 30 minutes later the council guy arrived.
"I am sorry I am probably being alarmist and I don't want to waste your time"
He took the opposite position saying.
"no this tree is dangerous and should come down as far as I am concerned you can take it out immediately I will do written vincent when I get back"
On Wednesday put it came

xelasnave · #2 22-05-2015, 08:07 PM

On Wednesday out it came.

Thank you council.
But the message is...be nice to the office staff as I am sure they made sure the nice old man was looked after.

xelasnave · #3 22-05-2015, 08:09 PM

Sorry about the spelling

ZeroID (Brent) · #4 22-05-2015, 08:10 PM

Charming the ladies always helps ...

Nice one Alex

xelasnave · #5 22-05-2015, 08:14 PM

Also an old trick.take the opposite position to the outcome you want.."I am being alarmist"
"no you are not this tree must come out "

Sundog (Paul) · #6 22-05-2015, 09:07 PM

Hey, thanks for posting your positive experience. I have always had good experience with my council with similar things.

Some people just like to bag the council. They really are there to help!

tlgerdes (Trevor) · #7 22-05-2015, 09:41 PM

I was talking with someone at the SPSP and they said that councils are taking a very different tack nowadays with trees near houses. Basically if you say you are concerned that the tree is dangerous and you are worried, they will sign it off.

They have been hit with too many law suits from insurance companies after storms, for trees that have come down, when they had been warned and did nothing.

deanm (Dean) · #8 22-05-2015, 09:44 PM

Alex - I always enjoy your....distinctive and unique outlook on life!

I like it when surrounding Council trees fall over - more sky made available!

But sometimes, the trees fall into our backyard, damaging fences, Hills hoist etc.

The thing that bugs me is that if a gum tree on our property sheds a branch & damages adjacent Council property (even one of their vehicles), we're financially liable.

But if a tree on Council property topples & takes out half of our roof, tough luck, no recourse.

Huh?!

Dean

xelasnave · #9 22-05-2015, 10:29 PM

Thank you Dean for your kind words.
I am not sure of the legal position but if you have a dangerous tree on council property ask them not to remove it or you will sue them,. then poison the tree.
They will say it's dead and must come out.

xelasnave · #10 22-05-2015, 10:45 PM

Trevor a first I was told safety was not a consideration.
I suspected that was where I was supposed to go off my head and they could push me to the end of the line.
I mean I have a tree ready to destroy the house and safety is not an issue????
The issue was "is the tree indigenous"..it was.
At that point I felt I was not going to get anywhere...but I showed no rage but only respect.."I am glad council is so dedicated to saving our trees"I said.
Not what was expected I feel.

xelasnave · #11 22-05-2015, 10:53 PM

Paul the council is bad so you must rely on it's people.

Larryp (Laurie) · #12 22-05-2015, 11:02 PM

I read in the newspaper that following the widespread damage caused by the recent storms in NSW, the state government was going to allow removal of trees that may constitute a danger to property. This would override councils.

xelasnave · #13 22-05-2015, 11:20 PM

Laurie often Governments make statements to show they are doing something expected of them by the public.
It seems to me the council were unaware of such.
Personally I would be surprised if the government did anything..they can't just tell the council what to do.. They must pass legislation, presumably they would need to alter the act, maybe the regulations... Have they I wonder.

xelasnave · #14 22-05-2015, 11:33 PM

There is legislation re bush fire prevention.
You can cut under certain conditions related to bush fire prevention but as far as I can tell so far maybe someone forgot to send a copy of the press release to the guy charged with drafting new legislation.
Dam that happens a lot.

inertia8 (Australia) · #15 22-05-2015, 11:55 PM

We've got a gum on council land threatening our place, made the call and was assessed to be ok. They strapped the main branches linking them together. If it falls on the house I hope no ones in the front bedroom... I guess our insurance would then sue the council's insurance..

xelasnave · #16 23-05-2015, 12:04 AM

Kill the tree, don't let anyone see you, wait a couple of months and tell them the tree died.
Place some doggy mushrooms around the base and it will be declared diseased and removed.

xelasnave · #17 23-05-2015, 12:08 AM

Ask them about the press release and the governments stated intention.
Remember when they laugh..you laugh

GeoffW1 (Geoff) · #18 23-05-2015, 02:10 AM

Hi Alex,

Good to hear.

Our Council here has become so chaotic at meetings it appears they may even be sacked.

They made us spend over $1000 on reports and assessments before we could take a tree out, and it was not even a native.

Better now

xelasnave · #19 23-05-2015, 09:22 AM

Take the council out.
Geoff what you experienced is what I expected to face.

I live in a forest and trees are nice but folk do not appreciate just how dangerous they can be.
They can be killers.
Realistic management is necessary and councils should not demand fees to engage an expert to say when they should come out.

Safety should be the consideration and really if a tree overhangs a house it must clearly represent a major safety concern.

I don't think safety is on the books as a reason to take a tree out at this point.
If that is the case then action should be taken to change the law.

Unfortunately my experience with council on a professional level tells me they usurp power relying on the act which gives them limited power.

Example..parks and garden contribution.
The Local Government Act once covered the contribution staying council could take land from a subdivision for parks and garden or a monetary contribution in instead of land..

Well the council from there have their "calculator" of how the contribution be determined

xelasnave · #20 23-05-2015, 09:28 AM

Their "method" is presented as absolute law and yet it is only what they made up.
I acted on 10 lot subdivision where I convinced the developer to call their bluff and beat them out of the money.
They fought my law but I won.