THE TALLER THEY ARE: Trees lopped outside Kaniva Swimming Pool. Picture: ANNIE AUSTIN
KANIVA residents feel they have been ignored after trees have continued to be lopped in town.
The lopping comes just days after West Wimmera Shire Council gave residents the impression that trees would not be touched.
Powercor had also stated it would work with the shire before doing vegetation management at Kaniva.
West Wimmera Shire Mayor Bruce Meyer said last week he was confident that since a meeting with Powercor in February, damage to trees in Kaniva would be minimised.
Resident Lyn Powell said Kaniva people were distressed about trees lopped outside Kaniva Swimming Pool.
She said residents were concerned because Powercor had promised to meet the community before any more trimming was done.
"I know there were trees that would be lopped or removed because they were considered hotspots, but we were under the impression that that wouldn't be for another six months," she said.
"For years, people in Kaniva have had tree planting projects, all with council's consent, to make the town look great and now all of a sudden we are getting this destruction of trees without community consultation."
Mrs Powell said residents were disappointed lopping had happened, despite a petition being presented to the council last week.
"It feels like we are hitting our head against a brick wall," she said.
West Wimmera Shire infrastructure development and works manager Robyn Evans said the council had made it clear that trees considered high risk would require urgent attention.
She said the three trees at the pool, commonly known as 'itchy bomb' trees, had thin spines in their seed pods which could irritate the skin and be extremely painful.
"These trees were not appropriate to have near a swimming pool," she said.
The trees were also too close to power lines.
She said more appropriate trees would be planted there in autumn.
"In relation to low fire risk areas, we agreed that no trimming or removal would be done without community consultation," she said.
"It is different with high fire risk areas because Powercor is required by legislation to attend to those trees."
She said the urgent works had been done and no other trees would be lopped.
A Powercor spokesman said the company was working with West Wimmera Shire Council to try to be sensitive to the type of trimming required in some of Kaniva's streets.