Cade Lucas
The company responsible for conducting night time tree maintenance that has upset Werribee residents, has defended the practice, arguing that working after dark is safer.
Infrastructure services provider Ventia maintains roadside trees for six local governments – including Wyndham council – on behalf of Vic Roads.
Since early October Ventia crews have been performing maintenance works on sugar gums along Geelong Road in Werribee at night, angering local residents who claim the noise has caused them to lose sleep.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Ventia said tree maintenance, which includes general pruning, the removal of dead limbs and dead and dying trees, was vital for public safety, especially ahead of the fire and storm season.
“The work is conducted at night under strict council guidelines, again primarily for safety reasons,” the Ventia spokesperson said.
“Tree removal is a complicated and potentially dangerous activity. Conducting night work also reduces the impact on traffic and pedestrians.”
Residents along Geelong Road have complained that the works have taken place anywhere between 8pm and 1am and that the noise from chainsaws and tree shredders operating just meters from their homes, has deprived them of sleep and affected their wellbeing.
“I had a toddler who was woken up each night and my son he missed a couple of days at school because of being kept awake by the noise,” said Geelong Road resident Anna Rebesco of the impact the works had throughout October and into November.
Her neighbour Lisa Markovic agreed that the trees needed to be maintained but not at night.
“It’s not an appropriate time of day and in my 13 years there I’ve never had this sort of work happening at this time,” Ms Markovic said.
“I can’t operate power tools in my house after a certain time because of noise restrictions so I don’t even know if this is allowed.”
While apologising for the disruption, the Ventia spokesperson reiterated that their workers operated within strict guidelines and took residents concerns into account.
“We appreciate that conducting this essential work may impact some residents and do our best to minimise this, such as restricting the heaviest work to early in the evening and notifying residents ahead of work in their area,” the spokesperson said.
“Resident notifications were letterbox dropped on the 25 September and again on 15 November.”
Geelong Road residents have argued these notifications are inadequate and that they are unaware how long the works will go on for.
After a brief hiatus, the evening tree maintenance is believed to have resumed this week.
