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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, July 25, 2014 | 4 Bur oak tree is not believed to be hazardous continued from p.1 Tree Specialists Inc. to assess the tree and gave her the resultant 2008 arbourist report which noted the bur oak had under-sized leaves and dead bark, which are signs of a dying tree. "(The report) said the tree probably won't last another five to eight years. Every year that goes by, it becomes worse," said Everingham. Previously on the site, there was the 1.8-hectare Grand Oak woodlot -- the bur oak is all that remains. In 2004, Town of Oakville council saved one quarter of the woodlot, but the rest was sacrificed to development. As bulldozers encroached, residents and councillors worked to save the 100-year-old oak -- the Oakville Beaver covered the story in 2006. Ward 4 Regional and Town Councillor Allan Elgar, councillor for the ward, says an arbourist report obtained by the Town in 2006 said the tree was healthy so efforts were made to protect it. "Hoarding was put in place around the tree in order to prevent the impact the surrounding development would have on it," Elgar said. "This is the first I've heard of this issue... if a 2008 report is saying the tree isn't healthy, that's pretty interesting." Elgar said he'd like to see an updated arbourist | Oakville Beaver file photo | photos by Graham Paine ­ Oakville Beaver Above left, the bur oak tree as it was pictured in the Oakville Beaver in 2006. Above right, homeowner Stephanie Everingham with daughter Brooke, six months, as workers get to work trimming the partially dead tree in the background. The family on Grand Oak Trail is frustrated with the responses they are getting from the Town of Oakville in regards to the large tree in their backyard, which they believe poses a danger to their home and children. Interlocking & Concrete Specialists WE ALSO DO LANDSCAPE DESIGN · Pebble Concrete · Stamped Concrete · Flagstone · Walkways · Garage Floors · Patios · Driveways · Curbs (French) Tel: 905.842.7171 Call Mario · sunmarlandscape.com report and would look into the issue. "If the tree is healthy, I'd like to see it stay -- there are so few oak trees left," he said. "On the other hand, if it is indeed dangerous, it of course needs to come down." An updated arborist report would help in determining that, he added. Everingham said she has been in touch with Tony Molnar of the Town's Trees and Woodlands department, who told her the tree is protected by the Town of Oakville and that it's removal needed to be determined by the Town. Everingham said Crystal Homes owns the tree as the Town has not yet assumed the area. She said she understood The Tree Specialists Inc. would come to her home last week (July 19) and determine what to do with the tree. Instead, she says, they told her they had a work order from the Town to only prune the tree. "The arbourist said `he's not eliminating the risk, he's just reducing it', by pruning," she said. "I understand where the Town is coming from, but it's not a healthy tree by any means." Philip Kelly of the Town's Development and Environmental Engineering Department said the 2008 arbourist's inspection found portions of the tree were a hazard, but not the tree itself so pruning was done to remove the dead branches. Kelly said the same firm working on behalf of the developer recently inspected the tree again and found parts that needed to be pruned, but not enough to classify the entire tree as a hazard. "It's common that if there is construction in an area you eventually have to go back and prune certain trees because this or that root may get damaged and so a branch may die," said Kelly. "You trim these branches off, but the tree itself lives on and survives." Everingham and her husband have been living in their home since 2009, but say they are now becoming more adamant about the tree's removal since the arrival of their young children. "I just feel that it's being brushed away, that we're told to just prune it and it will be fine -- but it's really not fine," she noted. "It will need eventual removal and replacement, we're told, but I feel like it's not being done soon enough." -- with files from David Lea What are you crowdfunding for? .com fuellocal.com is an online platform to raise money through crowdfunding: an opportunity for a collection of individuals to make donations in support of a cause. Create your fundraising campaign or help fund local initiatives at fuellocal.com Start your campaign now!