A row over a row of trees in Kiama Downs has led to questions as to what trees residents are allowed to remove on their own property without permission from Kiama Council.

Kiama Councillor Warren Steel raised concerns that a row of trees on a development site at 10 Riverside Drive were removed, questioning whether the property’s owners needed permission to remove the trees.

However, an arboricultural impact assessment conducted by Apex Tree & Garden Experts’ managing director Scott Gatenby for Kiama Council, found that the trees did not need express permission before they were removed.

The report identified 15 trees on the property, 11 of which were Lagunaria patersonia, also known as Norfolk Island Hibiscus, Cow Itch, or Itchy Bomb trees. This species of tree is considered undesirable as its seed pods are filled with fibreglass-like needles that can cause severe skin irritation to anyone nearby.

Gatenby wrote in his report that “the only arboricultural merit for the Norfolk Island Hibiscus is simply that they are there,” and recommended they be replaced with a row of six to eight trees more commonly seen around the Kiama LGA such as Cook Island Pines. Norfolk Island Hibiscus is listed by Kiama Council as an “exempt tree species,” meaning residents don’t need permission to remove them.

There were also four other trees on the property, including Water Gum trees and a Eucalypt. These trees however were heavily infested with Ivy, which Gatenby said would ultimately lead to their death and recommended that they also be removed.

All 15 trees have since been removed from the property.