Joburg's costly tree war

GREENLIGHT: CITY PARKS BACKTRACKS AFTER WINNING LEGAL BATTLE COSTING R400 000

- Jarryd Westerdale

Joburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) will yield to a resident's request despite winning a three-year dispute. Two trees outside the boundary wall of a house near Melville have been at the centre of a battle between the city and a family, which was seemingly concluded. The homeowners took the matter to Gauteng High Court, where their application to force the city to remove the trees was dismissed with costs.

Despite having won the court battle in September, City Parks confirmed to Saturday Citizen yesterday that it would now grant the residents their wish.

The Culhanes moved into their picturesque street home in 2020 and by December 2021 had received confirmation of their request to cut down trees that were damaging their boundary wall, driveway and front gate.

The trees are an acacia monkey-thorn and yellow fever tree, which are known for their aggressive root systems.

The Culhanes were told in February 2022 that the trees would come down on condition they planted 15 similar trees at their own cost.

They appealed, but no outcome was relayed.

The city dug its heels in, arguing that there were no grounds to remove the 50-year-old trees.

In gathering evidence to present to the city, the Culhanes obtained four separate reports between 2022 and last year confirming the trees were damaging their property.