Residents of a Seddon street are mourning the loss of a popular tree swing in what they have labelled as unnecessary lopping of tree limbs.
Katie Ewing said her family returned home last week to find the much-loved tree swing had been cast over their fence.
The limb that had held the swing for more than three years had been chopped off despite being nowhere near the power lines.
The pruning work was carried out by professional arborists on behalf of Maribyrnong council.
Ms Ewing said the swing had been a popular feature that brought Hobbs Street residents of all ages together.
“They chopped it down and pruned the tree without any consultation,” she said. “My partner is a landscape gardener, and he says there was no reason to remove this particular branch with the swing on it.”
The swing was originally tied to the tree for her daughter, Lana, who remains upset at the loss. Ms Ewing said the action undermined a push by Maribyrnong council to create friendlier neighbourhoods.
“My concern is around the lack of communication to residents and the lack of regard for community engagement activities that things like swings in street trees provide.”
Ms Ewing said she understood the need for trees not to interfere with overhead power lines, but objected to work that has left the Hobbs Street trees looking “hacked into” without any community input.
“There was no attempt to let us know about the work, no indication at all that it was going to happen,” she said. “The swing wasn’t close to the road or to the footpath.”
Council infrastructure and engineering director Ian Butterworth said the majority of feedback council received from residents about tree pruning was positive.
“Council does not currently have a specific policy on swings being attached to street trees, however may remove the swings if they are hanging on limbs that need to be pruned.”
