'Ghostly' trees 'depressing' Pleasant Point

The 'ghostly' tree are meant to stay as a place for birds to perch. Photo / Supplied

Dead macrocarpa and pine trees at the former Pleasant Point Yacht Club site are unsightly, depressing and a "serious health concern."

The Southshore Residents Association want the trees removed urgently and have written to the Coastal-Burwood Community Board expressing "shock" at finding out the city council intended them to provide a permanent nesting spot for birds.

Association spokesman Simon Brown said neither he nor any other Southshore residents had ever seen any birds near the trees, which were "precariously balanced" and posed a health and safety risk for people using the estuary edge.

"We are concerned that the trees could fall on someone and for the ongoing effect on our mental health as the eastern suburbs continue to be forgotten in the recovery of the city," Mr Brown said.

South Brighton Residents Association chairman Hugo Kristensson agreed they should go.

They were "ghostly" and "not very attractive," he said. "We need to tidy the area up, everyone agrees on that."

Salt water intrusion relating to the February 22, 2011, earthquake had killed a number of trees around the Avon-Heathcote Estuary edge, some of which were removed in 2012.

Mr Kristensson said the city council had decided to leave some for herons and other birds to nest in.

But he said he had never seen any birds nesting in the trees.