WESTVILLE Conservancy committee members are furious with the Parks Department, which has authorised more Ficus natalensis trees (fig trees) to be chopped down. According to conservancy committee member, Jean Senogles, this is not the first time that the Parks Department have authorised hacks on residents’ requests, without considering the environment.
The two fig trees, believed to be more than 60 years old, were growing at the intersection of Pitlochry and Roger Sishi Road in Westville, on the side verge of 1 Selby House, which is owned by Selby’s Productions founder, Ron Selby.
Senogles said the Parks Department chopped down two fully grown fig trees but chose to ignore the alien invasive plants, which were category one, two and three, growing in close proximity to these indigenous trees.
“Where is the reasoning to this? Who requested the hack? The trees were here before any of these houses were built,” said Senogles.
Clive Walker said the municipality also authorised and chopped down another fig tree near the Palmiet River some time ago, which was home to eagle owls. The hack was also a request by residents living near the river.
“Since the fig tree was cut down, we don’t hear the eagle owls anymore. Here again, who requested the hack, and for what reason, and who authorised it at the Parks Department? They obviously have no knowledge of indigenous trees and what it means to the environment,” said Walker.
But according to Ron Selby, the trees were rotten, full of white ants and looked as if they were going to topple over.
“The trees had become a danger to motorists driving along Roger Sishi Road, as well as a threat to my boundary wall, so I put in a request to the Park’s Department to chop them down,” said Selby.
The Parks Department had still not responded to questions emailed to them, at the time of going to press.
