Penrith City Council has now begun its final year of a program to remove Spotted Gum and Nicholii trees that were inappropriately planted along footpaths and had the potential to damage property.
Penrith City Mayor Greg Davies said the five-year program was started after a thorough assessment of all Spotted Gum and Nicholii trees in public spaces, which showed that many of the trees planted along footpaths were at risk of falling over in high wind events due to restricted root growth.
“The higher risk trees were removed in the first year,” Councillor Davies said.
He said he understood some members of the community would be concerned by the tree lopping.
“We are very fortunate to have many trees in our City, and Council appreciates the scenic beauty of our neighbourhoods," he said.
“But Council has a duty to make sure the community is safe.
“Wherever we do cut a tree down, we will replace that tree with a more suitable tree. Council plants some 20,000 trees a year throughout the City.”
The Spotted Gums and Nicholii trees will be removed from St Clair, Cranebrook, Glenmore Park, Jamisontown and South Penrith.
