Southern Comfort Meadfoot Sea Road Torquay TQ1 2LQ

Description

I am applying to remove one large Eucalyptus nitens. This tree is growing close to the boundary with Suncourt about half-way between the highway and the house. It is in the region of 20m in height. General The garden has been carefully designed and has been noted for the variety and quality of its plants. The area around the tree is tightly planted with trees (as can be see from Drawing_01) including the following: Gleditsia triacanthos, Magnolia officinalis var biloba, Phoenix canariensis, Magnolia grandiflora, Catalpa bignionoides 'Aurea', . All these are large including the P. canariensis. There is a smaller Butia capitata and a Cornus cousa further away. In addition there are large shrubs including a Japanese maple, Tetrapanax, Viburnum and Camellia Glycerinia as a windbreak, Pseudopanax ferox as well as countless Trachycarpus fortunei. There is a large plane tree in the highway which largely screens these plantings from the roadway, especially during summer. Reasons for works 1. In common with other Eucalyptus which I have had growing in the garden and which have quite rapidly died, this tree has a large scar on its western side. The dimensions of the scar are about 1300mm by 150mm (at the widest). The inner wood is fully exposed, is soft and is discoloured. This defect is not apparent from the eastern (our) side of the tree. I have been advised that this tree will probably not survive more than another year or two. It may be relevant that a much smaller neighbouring Eucalyptus niphophila has recently fully died. 2. My neighbour in Suncourt has been telling me that he is concerned that the tree is growing too close to his boundary wall and large paved area which he fears may be damaged by its shallow roots. 3. My main concern is that the tree - given its height and exposure to winds in the Meadfoot Valley - now poses a risk by falling either onto the Southern Comfort driveway or onto the Suncourt one. It is thus constitutes a danger to persons