Trees along Gipps Road at Gywnneville that have been severely cut back should bounce back quickly, according to Wollongong City Council.
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The trees are growing underneath power lines and were recently pruned by Endeavour Energy - too severely according to some.
A council spokesman said the provider did not require council approval to prune trees in accordance with its safe distance guidelines.
"However, council consent is required to remove whole trees on public land under power lines," the spokesman said.
"Also Endeavour has authority to remove trees deemed an immediate hazard to power supply."
READ MORE: Endeavour Energy plan to remove 1300 trees
The spokesman said the unappealing look of the trees would only be short-term.
"At times pruning of trees may reduce the landscape value of the trees in our urban spaces," he said.
"However, in most normal cases the trees respond with new growth. This will certainly be the expected response from the brush box (Lophostemon confertus) trees in Gipps Road."
At times pruning of trees may reduce the landscape value of the trees in our urban spaces.
- A Wollongong City Council spokesman
An Endeavour Energy spokesman said trees underneath power lines needed to be kept at least three metres from the lowest line.
"The brush box trees in Gipps Road can grow to 15-20 metres in height," the Endeavour Energy spokesman said.
"This most recent pruning removed the regrowth since the last maintenance cycle in 2018."
The minimum safety clearance was determined by a range of factors, the spokesman said, including the species of tree, the type of power line and whether the Rural Fire Service considered it a bushfire-prone area.
"Once the minimum safety clearance is achieved, individual branches are cut back to their growth collar in line with the Australian Standard for amenity pruning to maintain the health of the tree and minimise the risk of infection," he said.
The spokesman said there were "hidden risks" in trees growing too close to power lines.
"Tree branches interrupt electricity supply to local homes and businesses and can bring power lines down during storms," he said.
"Left unmanaged, trees can start bushfires and hide power lines in branches that children can climb."