By JESSE GRAHAM
THREE CARS received heavy superficial damage after a large tree fell at the back of Healesville’s Yarra Valley Clinic last Thursday after a windy and wet morning.
The tree, which was around 15 metres tall, fell in the back car park of the clinic at 2.10pm on Thursday 26 September, blocking off access to the clinic through the rear entry.
The top of the tree landed on four cars, narrowly avoiding a fifth. However, no-one was injured as a result.
One of the cars, a green station wagon, had its windscreen smashed and dents on the roof and had to be towed from the scene, while two of the other cars received dents and scratches. The fourth car received minimal damage.
Three Healesville SES members attended the scene at 2.40pm and cut the tree to pieces until around 5pm.
Principal Doctor and part-owner of the Yarra Valley Clinic Elroy Schroeder said he was upset about the tree’s falling, as it restricted access to the clinic if an ambulance was needed at the time.
He said the clinic had applied for a permit to have the tree removed in recent years, as there were concerns about the tree dropping limbs and roots damaging the asphalt.
An arborist was sent by the Yarra Ranges Council to inspect the tree, which was deemed as safe at the time.
“I don’t think he considered shallow roots,” Dr Schroeder said.
However, Yarra Ranges Council’s Director of Environment and Engineering Mar Varmalis said the permit application was on 24 April 2009, over four years ago.
Mr Varmalis said the tree was determined to be of good health at the time, and that the weather conditions accounted for the tree fall.
“Given the exceptional weather conditions experienced at the time of the incident, the significant strength of the winds are enough to bring down any tree (healthy or otherwise),” he said.
Geoff Stott from Healesville SES, who helped to cut up the tree, said the SES had been called to another incident that day, where strong winds had brought down a tree the same size in Maddens Lane.
He warned residents to take notice of tree behaviour on days of dangerous weather.
“You should keep an eye on them, to see if the earth around it or the root ball is moving,” he said.
Damages have yet to be fully assessed, according to an employee at the clinic.
