Council prunes trees on pavement to resident’s dismay
PARKHURST – A resident expressed her shock as she alleged that City officers decimated her healthy trees.
A resident from Parkhurst recently expressed shock when her pavement trees were ‘butchered’ in a council pruning. The resident insisted that her trees did not require any pruning and the only communication made with her was by a sub-contracted private company when they came to ‘mutilate’ her healthy trees.
The resident who requested to remain anonymous said, “I am absolutely devastated. I planted them and have looked after them for 12 years and council has not touched them once. I prune and maintain them. Now in a time of absolute decimation of our trees with shot-hole borer, they butcher 100 per cent healthy trees planted by a citizen.”
She added that she had spent time chasing the pruners around the suburb trying to get information and the council lines were always busy and never answered.
Ward 117 Councillor Tim Truluck said residents are not allowed to trim street trees as they belong to City Parks and trimming them could lead to fines, therefore, this was a City Parks issue.
A response from Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo spokesperson, Jenny Moodley said they went out to the resident in Parkhurst and investigated the trees in Parkhurst and along the affected street.
“Some trees required pruning and that was undertaken by a contractor on behalf of City Parks’ street trees team. This is part of City Parks’ standard operating tree management process which is to lop branches that are overhanging onto private property, or that are obstructing pedestrian access.”
Moodley added that this team, however, is not equipped to remove trees that are affected by the polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB). “Only trees that are dead due to the borer will be removed as there are a few species that are highly infested but are not displaying immediate symptoms of dieback. This is to protect the tree canopy in the city, which is compromised by the spread of PSHB.”
She added that the resident is dealing with many misdiagnosed complaints and while there is a high-infestation prevalence of PSHB in at least seven wards in the city, there are also no confirmed reports in most of the other 128 wards.
The resident said her emails are being ignored but she is not ready to give up yet.
Details: Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo channel queries through the call centre, Joburg Connect on 0860 56 28 74 or 011 375 5555
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