I live on Raftons Road Bangalow, it is quite a busy traffic and foot-traffic road and it services the subdivision above Rifle Range Road.
About four weeks ago, a huge branch fell across my driveway and half of the road, it was the length of the property plus. It is a huge ghost gum and one of two that are on the Council land.
If a local resident or myself was under or near the tree, there was the potential for death or severe injury.
The clean up crew came within the hour, and I asked them to report the enormity of the situation. The Council worker’s reply was that it would cost a fortune to remove the tree.
I am all for feeding the koalas and keeping a corridor, but when I see mothers and their children daily walking on this road, I am filled with horror as to the consequences of another branch falling. I am afraid to be anywhere near the tree in the wind and worry about having to mow the lawn and collect the bins, just in case.
The Council men returned a couple of weeks later and trimmed a couple of branches, but this tree and the neighbouring tree are way too big to be on a busy suburban road and footpath. We have contacted Council on numerous occasions to report huge branches falling way too close to visitors, their cars and the house.
We have already tragically had a local man lose his life, perhaps because of bad lighting, and now I worry another tragedy is waiting to happen.
If you live near Raftons Road please contact Council and express your fears of walking on this road.
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