Giant blue gums on Fancourt property worries neighbour

The giant eucalyptus trees on the Fancourt Estate along the Malgas River opposite Heather Park should have been removed many years ago, according to Don Wilkin, a local property developer.

- Alida de Beer

Wilkin says he bought land on the eastern side of the river from the George Municipality in 1993 and, with its permission, began cutting down the blue gum and wattle trees in the river in order to improve the view from his land. When Fancourt bought the land on the other side of the river in 1996, Wilkin was instructed by the municipality to stop the tree removal because "Fancourt wanted a screen between their golf course and the neighbours".

"As children used to play in the river and it was extensively used by walkers and horse riders, there was a public outcry."