THE community can only hope concerns about the number of dead trees lining the Great Alpine Road are never realised with someone either killed or injured as the result of a tree falling on them.
However, these are concerns that need to be more carefully considered than they have been in the seven years since the North East bushfires in 2003 that weakened and destroyed many trees.
In the past week, there have been reports of fallen trees as a result of increased snowfalls in the region.
Heavy snow and rain this past winter will further weaken the ground around trees that should be removed before they become a major hazard.
The proximity of many of these weakened trees to a major road such as the Great Alpine Road is of greater concern with the increased patronage of the road, not only in winter but at warmer times of the year.
Waiting until the trees are inspected once again in 2012 is too long.
Given the most recent weather in the region, a new timetable should be drawn up for an immediate inspection of these roadside trees and any others that may pose a hazard to life or property should they fall. Those identified as a hazard should be removed.
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