GIVEN that Kogarah Council is quick to start legal proceedings against residents who chop down a tree — or even a branch — George Koromvokis reckons it should take a good look at its own chop-happy staff. http://www.theleader.com.au/story/1416874/11000-pain-for-lopping-branch/
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Mr Koromvokis, whose apartment building is on the corner of Hampton Court Road and Jubilee Avenue, Carlton, is as mad as hell. He said council workers disfigured the bush in his yard and when he made a complaint to staff further up the ranks he was told to get over it.
‘‘I know it is not the end of the world and that no one has died, but there is a principle here,’’ Mr Koromvokis said. ‘‘I hate their cowboy attitude — they think they can do whatever they want without consequences and without an apology.’’
Mr Koromvokis believes the council acted on a complaint claiming the branches extended onto the footpath, but no one came out for a proper assessment — just a ‘‘severe haircut’’.
‘‘If they had the decency to talk to me about it I would have been happy to clip it,’’ he said.
‘‘We live in Australia, not North Korea: this is not a police state.’’
COUNCIL SAYS
Council received several complaints from the public regarding the risks to pedestrian safety posed by the overhanging branches from the shrub located at the property.
Following an inspection of the shrub, council determined that branches overhanging the footpath were a significant risk to pedestrian safety and action was taken to trim those branches.
Council is obligated to exercise its duty of care to maintain public safety.
As the shrub was located in the grounds of a block of units, consulting with the body corporate would have unduly delayed the necessary trimming.
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