A LARGE branch from a gumtree that fell on benches in the playground at Sutherland North Public School over the long weekend was marked for removal.
The branch fell sometime between Sunday and Monday, just before students were due to return from the school holidays Tuesday.
It was spotted by a resident while walking in Acacia Road on Monday morning.
"It's a monstrous branch that looks like it would have taken 10 people to lift it," said the resident, who did not want to be identified.
"It would have caused tremendous damage. I don't think gumtrees should be allowed in school playgrounds."
A NSW Department of Education spokesman said an inspection of the trees at the Sutherland North Public School grounds during the recent school holidays identified the tree that dropped a branch late last week as needing removal.
"Before school resumed this week and in preparation for the removal, the area around the tree would have been fenced off to prevent public access," he said.
"No indication that the tree posed an imminent threat to public safety had been received by the school.
"Student well-being, including the safety of school grounds, is the highest priority for every NSW public school."
In February last year, Bridget Wright, 8, was killed when a large branch from a 50-year-old gumtree fell and landed on three students and a teacher at Pitt Town Public School in north-western Sydney.
Following this, the Department of Education and Communities decided to conduct a tree audit of school playgrounds.
Using a qualified arborist, the condition of tall trees and gumtrees on school sites were reviewed as a priority.
Schools' existing tree management practices were also reviewed.
The Catholic Education Office issued a safety order in August 2013 to ensure schools arranged biannual inspections of all trees on school grounds.
