GEORGE NEWS - The Ward 18 Committee removed 50 Blue Gum trees next to the Kat River area recently, that were identified as problem sites on the property of George Municipality. One of the problem sites identified was 19 to 39 Madeliefie Avenue and West of the Kat River.
The project started on 2 June and took two days with the help of a tree felling company.
Cllr Donovan Gultig, Ward 18 Councillor(Denneoord, Tweerivieren, Denver Park, Loerie Park and Eden), said he is not one to cut down trees and nor is the Municipality of George but several pertinent reasons for their removal included: the trees were up to 39-meter-high, very close to the houses of the residents and posed a threat (trees have fallen onto houses before) and the roots of the trees were growing into the sewer lines causing damage to infrastructure.
Blue Gums are an invasive species from Australia and are also known for being water hungry with a large blue gum able to suck up to 200 litres of water per day. The Ward Committee based their decision of the ward based funding expenditure on these reasons.
Cllr Gultig noted that a new project will be the planting of 500 indigenous trees to rectify the loss of trees.
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