Opinion: Stumped by wait on tree root damage

AFTER reading the comments from City of Melville acting chief executive Marten Tieleman about the extensive tree root damage to the road surface and median strips along the northern end of Findlay Road in Leeming (‘Concrete proof of work standard’, Melville Times, Tuesday, June 6) I had to laugh otherwise I would have cried.

Either things move really slow within the City of Melville or Mr Tieleman is way out of touch – though I strongly suspect it is both.

It is now over 19 months since I first raised this issue with the City of Melville.

First of all, I was incorrectly advised that Main Roads WA had responsibility for this matter.

Then, after it landed back at the City of Melville, it took over six months for the problem to be assessed – and there the matter has remained “sitting with upper management”.

Mr Tieleman says that “options are being investigated, such as median or road widening and other possible treatments”.

As I wrote to City of Melville in February 2016, blind Freddy can make the assessment that the trees will have to be removed.

Cutting the roots will only ever be a temporary measure and which will become more difficult, and the damage to the hard surfaces greater, as the trees get bigger.

Large eucalypts should never be planted anywhere within a road reserve, for in addition to the current problem, they greatly increase the risk to motorists should they have the misfortune to crash into one.

If the City continues to sit on its hands in regard to this ever growing problem, it’ll move beyond resolution when the trees become heritage listed.

COLIN DELANE,

Leeming