It took weeks of discussing and convincing for the residents of Streatley Avenue in Auckland Park to decide to cut down their street’s beloved hallmark bluegum trees, and now that the tree fellers have arrived they regret it.
Cutting the gigantic falling trees have resulted in damaged power lines, broken street lights, damaged sections of the palisade fence running behind the trees, created a gaping hole in the street and broken branches and other trees behind them. On 21 August, a falling branch crashed through the power lines and onto Keith Knowlton and Jane Griffiths’ garden wall, wreaking havoc. A student complaining to the tree fellers was allegedly assaulted.
“Having watched them work over the last few weeks, we were concerned that this tree might cause problems,” Knowlton said at his house on 22 August.
“The team of tree fellers had consistently shown that they were inexperienced at directing the fall of large branches and sections of tree trunk. As a resident with my property directly across the street from the tree, I repeatedly told them to stop cutting and call their office or City Parks to get the proper resources. Their team leader just chose not to, telling us, “Do not worry. We have Outsurance. If there is any problem, they will pay.” “
The tree-fellers proceeded and dropped the tree onto the power lines, over Knowlton’s front wall and into his front garden.
A power pole was uprooted by the force, the Knowlton-Griffiths garden is in disarray and they’ve had to completely rewire their electric fencing.
“We are still in the process of getting quotes for repairs to our boundary wall, electric fencing, removing irreparably damaged trees and restoring large sections of the front garden,” Knowlton said on 25 August.
“For my wife, Jane Griffiths, a presentable garden in essential. She writes gardening books, conducts workshops, consultations and show gardens as part of her core business. So we will take the tree-feller at his word, “We have Outsurance. They will pay.”
Concerned students from another house came out to see why there was no electricity and what the commotion was about.
An altercation ensued. “The tree fellers told them they were renters and therefore had no right to complain,” Jane Griffiths said.
“When they argued about this, one of the members of the tree felling team assaulted a female student, hitting her hard on her arm. When she said she was calling the police, he threatened her by saying they had more guns than the police.”
City Parks and City Power representatives arrived to direct the clean-up operation, and Griffiths said that Mtseve General Trading has since been very helpful and apologetic and promptly paid for the repairs to the electric security fence.
“We (the Streatley Avenue inhabitants) agreed to have these trees felled because City Parks said they posed a danger,” Griffiths said.
“These trees have never caused us any harm. The only danger and damage has been caused by the tree fellers hired by City Parks. They’ve done what they can in the aftermath, but I can’t help crying hot, angry tears. You can’t replace a 30-year old tree with money.”
*City Parks and Zoo spokesperson Jenny Moodley confirmed that they were aware of the issue. “We have been engaging with the affected residents on this matter,” Moodley said.
“The bluegums on Streatley Avenue have reached the full maturity for their species and were being removed based on a series of requests from adjacent homeowners. Residents, who have incurred any damage during the removal of the trees, have been referred to JCPZs insurers. A report is being compiled in the interim by the street felling team that outlines the incident to ensure that our insurers are advised accordingly.”
Moodley advised Streatley residents to contact JCPZs Claims Department on 011 712 6600 if they have not submitted a claim as yet.
