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Municipal blunder destroys a 30-year-old heritage on city’s pavements

Zaheera Walker

A ‘pretty pavements’ beautification project in Sunninghill may have destroyed a heritage.

Of the 124 stinkwood trees planted along the central island in Maxwell Drive more than 30 years ago, 68 appear to be dying after heavy-duty impermeable plastic was used as a base for pebbles.
Sunninghill Community’s Bernadette Will said, “Early last year City Parks started upgrading the island. In June we noticed the trees appeared to be dying, but blamed it on the cold. They’ve never come back to life, even after our recent heavy rains. These trees seem lost forever.”
Concerned resident John Wilson said, “It would be a pity to lose such well-established trees and end up with sterile stones.”
Garden designer Craig de Necker said, “City Parks should have used a permeable weed barrier instead of the plastic. The weeds will eventually grow through it but rather have someone pull them out than kill off trees.” De Necker said using such plastic prevented all water from reaching roots.
City Parks’ street trees supervisor Reggie Moloi said, “In January he trees seemed to have suffered a shock and we will monitor them.”
Moloi was not part of the initial project and could not explain the process followed when the pebbles were laid. “But I will investigate whether the plastic is too close to the trunks”
Despite the Chronicle’s photographic evidence, Jenny Moodley of City Parks said a team was sent out to investigate and a senior horticulturist informed her there was no evidence of plastic. “We are investigating and believe some of those trees can be revived. If this is not possible we will replace them.”
Moodley also indicated that before the pebbles were laid,  weedkiller had been sprayed over the area.
zaheera@caxton.co.za

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