A SPATE of recent near misses from falling tree branches within Corowa's Ball Park caravan park has prompted Federation Council to make major changes at the facility also in need of significant upgrades.
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The council has confirmed nine incidents have been logged as near misses in the park located on the Murray River since July 1 last year with legal action also instigated previously from damage to property and injuries sustained from branches falling.
With the exception of one of the nine incidents they all occurred in calm weather.
Mayor Pat Bourke said council responded "quickly and comprehensively" each time these events were reported and numerous inspections by a qualified arborist have been carried out.
"Preventative pruning has also been carried out when the arborist thought an individual tree warranted pre-emptive treatment," he said.
"Council is confident that these responses have greatly reduced the number of branch falls which may have occurred.
"However, by any safety standard the occurrence of nine near misses from the same cause requires a response to safeguard the well-being of park employees, park patrons and their property.
"As there is no apparent way to safely predict whether these branch falls are going to occur, going forward, council believes that the presence of both camping, caravanning and annual sites within the fall zone that particular trees cannot co-exist.
"If any form of camping is to be permitted in these areas, that particular trees themselves must be totally removed from the park in a controlled manner by trained tree removalists.
"If this is not possible then all sites should be removed from within the potential fall zone of branches and or trees."
The council will operate the park as a visitor accommodation venue including the 20 cabins, and available powered and unpowered sites, but with inevitable disruptions to many areas as upgrade works progress.
Cr Bourke said council was seeking further advice on the process in managing the present annual sites.
Issues also exist outside the branch fall zones including sites being created within close proximity to one another.
The caravan park is situated closeby where the Corowa pool will be redeveloped, cricket club building expanded and foreshore improvements made.
