A couple wanted to cut down a tree, but the council refused… now they’re lucky to be alive after their worst fears came true
A Sydney couple is counting their blessings after a gumtree ended up in their kitchen while they were taking an afternoon nap.
Keli Ou and May Sun were in the bedroom of their home in Eastwood, northwest Sydney, on Sunday when they heard a loud noise.
The couple were shocked to discover that a neighbour’s huge tree had broken through the walls of their home, destroying their kitchen, patio, garden and washing line.
“I was so scared,” Ms. Sun said 9Newsrevealing that they could have been killed if they had decided to have afternoon tea in the kitchen instead of taking a nap.
When Yin Huang, the couple’s neighbor, heard the loud bang, he ran outside and shouted to make sure everything was okay.
Ms Huang claims she first informed Ryde City Council about the unstable tree over a year ago and was initially told it was ‘perishable’.
She made a second bid to have the tree removed last October – which was rejected – and sent photos of large cracks in the trunk in May and November this year.
On Friday, the municipality asked Ms Huang to reapply to have the tree inspected, but 48 hours later it was too late.
A couple are left shocked after a huge gum tree smashed into their home, destroying their patio, garden and kitchen (pictured)
Residents Keli Ou (left) and May Sun (right) avoided death on Sunday after deciding to take a nap upstairs instead of afternoon tea in their now-destroyed kitchen
Several applications to have the tree removed have been rejected by Ryde City Council
“We applied in January 2023 and it was rejected,” she said.
‘We ask for a review. It was rejected again.”
Both Ms. Huang and her neighbors had become so concerned about the tree that they chose to stay indoors during wild weather for fear of being injured.
A spokesperson for Ryde City Council said that ‘the tree, which is on private land, was previously assessed as acceptable for conservation in accordance with industry accepted methods’.
‘When the owner of the tree raised concerns last week about a change in its health and condition, he was told that a further application for an inspection was required and unfortunately the tree failed before a further inspection was carried out.’
The couple are staying in a hotel while the wreckage is removed from their home before figuring out who will foot the hefty damage bill.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ryde City Council for further comment.
