Adelaide Hills apple growers are currently evaluating the extent of damage to their orchards following unexpected tree trimming by power line clearance contractors, just days before the harvest. The incident, which took place at the Lenswood orchard owned by Kym and Lachlan Green, involved the significant reduction of apple trees, with Kym reporting that a metre to a metre and a half was cut off the tops of their fruit-bearing trees.
SA Power Networks has acknowledged that their communication with orchard owners regarding the clearance work could have been better, yet they defended the necessity of the action to comply with regulatory standards. A spokesperson, Cecilia Schutz, emphasised that contractors were on-site because the orchard was not adhering to the required clearance between the power lines and trees. She reiterated the strict legislative demands they operate under concerning tree trimming.
Lachlan expressed frustration over the contractors’ approach, describing their methods as careless. The trimming was believed to be limited only to gum trees, so the unexpected impact on the apple trees was both shocking and disheartening for the farmers.
The repercussions of this incident are expected to be long-term, as the affected apple trees are unlikely to fully recover. As the farmers assess the situation, it raises concerns about the future viability of their orchards and the impending harvest, which is now severely compromised.