STORMY weather is thought to be behind two near misses involving falling trees in Albury.
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Swimmers had a lucky escape at Noreuil Park on Tuesday afternoon after a large gum tree fell into the water near a spot popular with children.
No-one appeared to have been hurt in the incident, which occured when the tree’s roots gave way with the river bank.
It was followed by an incident on Wagga Road on Wednesday morning where a large tree fell onto a rubbish truck.
Council staff were required to remove the branch, which appeared to have been partially rotten.
A man who had been camping nearby heard a loud cracking noise as the branch hit the truck.
Albury man Wayne Wheeler often walks his dog along the path at Noreuil and said most trees weren’t deeply rooted.
“They become very top heavy very easily,” he said.
“Because there are often kids about in those areas, it is a bit of a concern.
“It’s just fortunate there weren’t any underneath it at the time.
“It’s a common occurrence on the Murray after storms – gum trees are always falling in the water.
“You’ve got to be very careful.”
Mr Wheeler said regular changes to water releases from the Hume Weir did not help as it frequently changed the river level.
Falling trees have caused two deaths in the North East in recent years.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Peter Blake said the incidents were likely caused by increased storm activity, which has followed hot, dry weather.
“When you have a local wind gust being brought down to the surface, it can cause problems,” he said.
“The storms are generating some very strong wind gusts.
“Humid conditions are coming from the north east – Queensland and NSW.
"There is a moist and unstable air mass which is conducive to storms.”
