Residents at Dairy Farm Estate wrangle with condo management over removal of 35-year-old trees

SINGAPORE: It was the luscious green landscape that made Ms Christina Tang choose the Dairy Farm Estate condominium as her home in 1989. 

The retiree said she could have moved anywhere else, to other apartments or condominiums.

"But we wanted this because look, in this entire Singapore, can you find (an estate) like this?"

Despite the fact that the condo is "very old", many residents are still "sticking around" because of the beauty of the place, said Ms Tang.

"You cannot put a price on that. You can always get another condominium … but you can't get the atmosphere that we have here," she said.

But to Ms Tang's dismay, that atmosphere may soon see some major changes with the removal of four big trees.

Known as Khaya trees, these are large, tall trees that can grow up to a maximum height of 30m. 

Residents opposed to the removal of these trees contacted CNA with concerns over the decision to cut them down when they are still healthy and have been standing strong for more than 35 years. 

They also pointed to discrepancies in reports assessing the health and structural stability of the trees. 

A group of eight residents also sent a legal letter addressed to the condominium's Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST) and the landscaper involved, Lovely Landscape and Construction.

Residents asked for works on the trees to not proceed until a "proper and considered decision" is taken in accordance with the International Society of Arboriculture code of ethics and relevant provisions under the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act.

A petition on Change.org was also created in mid-August to prevent the loss of the four trees. It has since garnered more than 250 signatures.

When CNA visited the condominium on Friday (Sep 20) afternoon, the four trees in question and the surrounding area, which includes a playground, had been cordoned off. 

Residents said the area was only blocked off this week, the same time they learned about the decision to remove the trees. 

A management notice dated Sep 12 seen by CNA informed residents that a tree-cutting and pruning exercise would be conducted from Sep 16 to the end of October at the spot where the four Khaya trees are located.

On Friday, a man, who identified himself as the manager of Lovely Landscape and Construction, was seen explaining to residents that he had not received instructions to cut down the four Khaya trees yet. 

Instead, the landscaper was only pruning other trees located nearby. 

CONFUSION OVER TREE CUTTING

Residents showed CNA two tree assessment reports prepared by a certified arborist for the landscape maintenance services at Dairy Farm Estate. Both were submitted on Jul 10.

The reports stated that 11 mature trees found near one of the blocks at the condo were assessed for their health and structural stability. A table summarising the assessment was also included. 

In one of the reports, the recommendations for the four trees were crown reduction and corrective pruning. Height reduction was also suggested for one of the trees. 

Crown reduction is a type of pruning method aimed at reducing a tree's height. 

A second report, however, recommended that the four trees be removed and replaced. 

CNA has contacted the condominium's MCST about the reports and the decision to remove the trees.

Several residents had questions on why there were discrepancies in reports that were submitted on the same day. 

One of them, Ms Simona Orlej, said all the residents wanted was a proper analysis of the trees, one that went beyond just visual inspections. 

Ms Orlej, a Slovakian national, has been a tenant at Dairy Farm Estate for more than two years. 

The 36-year-old, who is a PhD student in Singapore, said she had viewed more than 70 condominiums in the eight years she has been in the country.

"Only this one has this special atmosphere that these trees provide. That's why I chose it," she said, adding that the condominium was "designed to live with nature".

"This is why all of us want to live here. We don't want to be in the (central business district)."

And now that the trees will be cut, she plans to move out once her tenancy contract ends, Ms Orlej said.

"I'm losing my home, which I built here. Because why fight to stay?"

FALLEN TREES AND SAFETY CONCERNS

Both reports noted that the four Khaya trees caused obstruction to a walkway and a slope in the area. 

A resident of eight years who only wanted to be known as Ms Mary said that while the trees provided shade and were good for children to play around, the pathway was bumpy due to the roots. 

The uplifting of the footpath by the roots was also highlighted in the two reports. 

In addition, the document which recommended for the trees to be removed and replaced also listed "potential targets" – namely the footpath, children's playground, a residential building and the landscape – that could be affected by the "failure of the (trees)".

The report also stated: "Moreover, (a) recent fallen tree case and property damage increases (the) likelihood of failure".

A thunderstorm in June had caused three other trees to fall over, damaging one resident's air-conditioning unit and windows, residents told CNA. 

Ms Neo Siew Bee said those whose homes were affected by the fallen trees in June would support the removal of the four Khaya trees. 

As for herself, however, she admitted that she did not know whose side she was on. The 48-year-old primary school teacher said there would be some "negative impact" with the trees being there, pointing to the pavement near the tree roots. 

"But of course, environmentally … we shouldn't be chopping (down) the (trees). So I don't know who to support," said Ms Neo, who has been a resident for more than 10 years.

"There will be a problem if we allow (them) to continue growing (out). But on the other hand, I also wouldn't want to see (them) chopped down as well."

She also questioned who would be responsible if the trees were to fall. 

"I wouldn't want to be the one pushing for it (if) later on, something were to happen (and) someone's kids were to get injured."