Sutherland tree collapse | Former mayor tried to have fig removed or substantially trimmed

Cr Pesce's request led to the inspection by staff in February 2020, which was referred to in a council statement on Friday's incident.

The statement said an expert arborist had determined the tree was of "normal health and structure".

The driver of a ute, which was trapped under the fallen tree, together with a woman and child, suffered minor injuries and were taken to hospital after the incident at the corner of President Avenue and Eton Street about 4.30pm.

The tree fell onto the Rosin Court Chinese restaurant, next to the IGA supermarket, normally a high pedestrian traffic route used by many school students.

Cr Pesce said he asked the council in January 2000 to inspect the tree with a view to removing or substantially trimming it after the managing agent for the adjoining property told him he had great concern the overhanging branches would damage the building.

"I was told after the inspection in February it was a significant tree and there was nothing wrong with it," Cr Pesce said.

"They wouldn't even consider trimming it."

The partial collapse of the tree is certain to reignite debate on the council floor, where Liberal councillors have generally supported requests for residents to remove problem trees, while some Labor councillors, with the notable exception of Cr Barry Collier, back council staff and oppose most applications.

Troublesome trees were discussed at a briefing session for councillors on Monday night last week.

Cr Pesce's view is that if a resident or business owner expresses serious concern about a tree, particularly if there is the risk of injury or worse, then the council should remove it.

"Labor councillors say I over-react when it comes to trees," he said.

"After the tree came down on Friday, I emailed them to say, 'This is what I was talking about'.

"If anyone was walking by when that awning came down, they could have been killed."

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