News Brief

Council plucks out fig trees

The City of Sydney removed two of Hyde Park’s historic fig trees last week after they were damaged by storms.
The trees were judged to be too dangerous for nearby pedestrians and were removed immediately after last week’s shock storms.
The City of Sydney chief arborist Karen Sweeney carried out some emergency pruning before deciding to remove the giants.
“I was very concerned overnight that there might be further branch fall, as the thinning of the branches due to the storm damage leaves the remaining branches at risk of snapping off and injuring someone.”
“The branch weakness, called an ‘included’ branch attachment, is common in Hill’s Figs and has caused numerous failures of the trees in Hyde Park and other Sydney streets and parks. It is extremely difficult to predict branch failures as the Hill’s Figs do not produce common signs (like “bulges”) that other trees do in response to structural defects.”
A branch of approximately 30cm fell during the storm. No one was injured.

Police search for lady in blue
Police are investigating the alleged robbery of a man on Glebe Point Rd on Saturday night.
The man was walking towards Chippendale when he was stopped by an unknown woman who asked him for a lighter.
The woman started hitting his head then attempted to grab the man’s bag but he refused to release it.
She then assaulted the man further until he left his bag and ran away.
He later returned for his bag and found nothing.
The woman has been described as Caucasian with long brown hair, medium build, and around 20 to 25 years.
At the time, she was wearing a short, dark blue dress and blue high heels.

Broadway brawl
Police are investigating a fight that broke out near Central on Friday night where three men were injured.
On Friday afternoon, three men confronted another man, which escalated from an argument to a fight.
Witnesses alleged one of the men was armed with a meat cleaver.
Security from a nearby building disarmed the men with the help of other witnesses.
Two men, aged 22 and 24 years, were taken to Sydney Hospital with wounds to their arms. The fourth man, 22, was arrested and taken to City Central Police.

By Nicholas Jordan