Trees may be at the ➜ root of the problem thoughtfully Trees near pipes Trees and your sewer pipes Ways to prevent problems could be asking Around our homes trees are favourites in most gardens. Through thoughtful planning you can minimise the risk of sewer Trees provide beauty, protection from sun, rain, wind, and invasion by tree roots. Before planting any type of tree on your generally speaking are friends in our environment. property, consider three actions you could take. for trouble But, and it’s an important but, if we choose to plant the wrong type of tree or plant trees too close to sewer pipes, we truly are asking for future trouble. Invasive tree roots are the most common cause of sewer blockages Consult with East Gippsland Water within East Gippsland Water sewer and water supply systems, and tree roots also have potential to cause major damage to buildings, If you don’t know where your property’s sewer and water mains run, footpaths, driveways, fences and household drainage pipes. check with EGW. In nearly every case we can provide you with a map Not for a moment are we suggesting that trees not be planted of your property showing where the sewer drain within your property around homes, but the message is, be careful with species boundary serves your home, and the sewer and water mains’ location selection and be thoughtful as to where trees are planted. in relation to your property. Armed with that information you can make sound decisions about planting trees, and determine if there are existing trees better off removed before costly damage occurs.

Poor choices can be costly Speak to a qualified arborist Tree roots in their search for moisture and nutrients can be very aggressive and cause considerable damage to private property Arborists provide professional advice on species suitable for and public assets. Water and sewer mains are prime targets gardens, and advice on: ● tree maintenance ● tree surgery/pruning ● tree removal for tree roots. Once roots enter a water or sewer system they grow very quickly due to their newfound source of water and nutrient, quickly blocking or damaging pipes and sewers. Visit your local nursery

Local knowledge and current information on a wide range of trees Cost of repairs? Who pays? and shrubs and their growing habits is obtainable from your local nursery. It’s also a good opportunity to find out which trees or shrubs don’t do well in your area. The cost of repairs can be expensive for property owners and for East Gippsland Water. Maintenance of sewer and water mains Customer service inside your property boundary is your responsibility. East Gippsland is our business Water is responsible for maintenance from your property’s point of For further information: connection to the sewer and water main supplying the entire street. Phone: (03) 5150 4444 If tree roots cause damage on your property you will need to Ph: (03) 5150 4444 24 Hour Emergency: 1300 134 202 contact a licensed plumber to fix the problem at your expense. 24 Hour Emergency: 1300 134 202 If the tree is on your property it is advisable to remove it as it will Fax: (03) 5150 4477 probably continue to cause damage. If the tree from your property E-mail: causes damage to a public asset outside your property boundary, [email protected] you may also be held liable for the damage caused. Visit our website: www.egwater.vic.gov.au CS15 EAST GIPPSLAND WATER

Botanical Name Common Name Botanical Name Common Name Leptospermum laevigatum Coast Ti-Tree Eucalyptus platypus Round Leaf Mallee Problem species 1 Malus spp. Crab Apple Eucalyptus sargentii Sargents Mallee Melaleuca ellipticaservice Granite Honeymyrtle Eucalyptus steedmanii Steedmans Gum Melaleuca fulgen Scarlet Honeymyrtle Eucalyptus torquata Coral Gum Not advisable within 2.5 metres of pipes Melaleuca lateritia Robin Redbreast Bush Ficus rubiginosa variegata Variegated Rusty Fig Melaleuca nesphila Showy Honeymyrtle Fraxinus exeelsior var. Aurea Golden Ash Melaleuca pentagona Oval-Leaf Honeymyrtle Fraxinus ornus Hanna Ash Botanical Name Common Name Melaleuca radula Graceful Honeymyrtle suaveolens Sweet Hakea Melaleuca hypericifolia Red Honeymyrtle Harpephyllum caffrum Kaffir Plum Acacia cultriform Knife – Leaf Wattle Nerium oleander Oleander Acacia cyclops Western Coastal Wattle Hymenosporum flavum Native Frangipani Photinia serrulata Chinese Hawthorn Ligustrum japonicum & variegated forms Golden Hedge Privet Acacia howittii Stick Wattle Pittosporum crassifolium (and variegated) Karo Acacia iteaphylla Gawler Range Wattle Liqustrum lucidum & variegated forms Glossy Tree Privet Pittosporum phylliraeoiden Weeping Pittosporum Liquidamber styraciflua Liquid Amber Acacia longifolia Sallow Wattle Pittosporum tenuifelium Kehuhu Acacia microbotrya Manna Wattle Melaleuca alternifolia - Prunus spp Flowering Fruit Trees Melaleuca armillaris Bracelet Honeymyrtle Acacia retinodes Wirilda Pyracantha coccinea lalandi Fire-Thorn Acacia sophorae Coast Wattle Melaleuca halmaturorum Kangaroo Paperbark Pyracantha crenulata Nepal Fire-Thorn Melaleuca huegelii Chenille Honeymyrtle Acacia sowdenii Western Myall Pyracantha rodgersiana - Acacia trineural Three-nerved Wattle Melaleuca lanceolata Moonah Sophora tetraptera Yellow Kowhai Melaleuca linarifolia var. - Acacia victoriae Bramble Wattle Spartium junceum Spanish Broom Acmena (Eugenia smithii) Lilly Pilly Melaleuca trichostachya Flax Leaf Paperbark Stenolobium stans velutina Yellow Elder Metrosideros exelsa N. Zealand Christmas Tree Acmena paniculata Bush Cherry Stenolobium alatum - Acmena coolminiana related species Blue Lilly Pilly Myoporum insulare Boobialla Viburnum tinas Laurestinus Myoporum montanum Water Bush Actinostrobus pyramidalis Swamp Cypress - Pine Vifex agnus-castus Lilac Chaste-Tree Bauhinia variegata and forms Ebony Wood Parkinson aculeate Jerusalem Thorn Betula pendula Silver Birch Pittosporum rhombifolium Queensland Pittosporum Calistemon citrinus Crimson Bottlebrush Pittosporum undulatum Sweet Pittosporum Callistemon “Gawler Hybrid” “Gawler Hybrid” Pittosporum variegated Variegated Pittosporum Callistemon lilacinus Lilac Bottlebrush Sophora japonica Pagoda Tree Callistemon macropuntatus Scarlet Bottlebrush Tristania conferta Brush Box Callistemon phoeniceus Fiery Botlebrush Problem species 2 Callistemon rigidus Stiff Bottlebrush Callistemon salignus Willow Bottlebrush Not advisable within 4 metres of pipes Callistemon viminalis and similar species Weeping Bottlebrush Cercis siliquastrum Judas Tree Problem species 3 Citharexylum spp. Fiddlewood Acacia acuminata Rasberry Jam Wattle Cotoneaster frigida Cotoneaster Acacia cyanophylla Orange Wattle Not advisable in any street, road or near drainage areas Crataegus lavellei French Hawthorn Acacia pendula Weeping Myall or Boree Crataegus oxyacantha and other forms English Hawthorn Acacia salicina Willow Wattle Duranta repens Sky Flower Acacia saligna Golden Wreath Wattle Eucalyptus caesia Gungurru Acer negundo Box Elder Maple Alnus jorullensis Evergreen Alder Eucalyptus calycogona Red Mallee Agonis flexuosa Willow Myrtle Eucalyptus cosmophylla Cup Gum Araucaria heterophylla Norfolk Island Pine Albizzia julibrissin Pink Silk Tree Casuarina cunninghamiana River She-Oak Eucalyptus crucis Silver Mallee Arbustus unedo Strawberry Tree Eucalyptus dielsii Diels Mallee Casuarina glauca Grey Buloke Bauhinia carroni and related species Queensland Bean or Ebony Cinnamomum camphora Camphor Laurel Eucalyptus eremophila Tall Sand Mallee Brachychiton acerifolius Flame Tree Eucalyptus erythrocorys Red-Cap Gum Crataegus (various species) Hawthorn Brachychiton discolor White Kurrajong Ficus (all species) Fig Eucalyptus erythronoma Lindsay Gum Brachychiton populenus Kurrajong Eucalyptus forrestiana Fuschia Gum Fraxinus oxycarpa Desert Ash Casuarina cristate Belah Fraxinus raywoodii Claret Ash Eucalyptus lepotophylla Slender-Leaf Mallee Casuarina stricta Drooping She-Oak Eucalyptus orbifolia Round-Leaf Mallee (Unless grafted or budded into certified Casaurina torulosa Rose She-Oak Fraxinus ornus (Manna Ash) root stock) Eucalyptus preissiana Bell-Fruit Mallee Celtis australia Nettle Tree Eucalyptus pyriformis Large-Fruit Mallee Lagunaria patersoni Pyramid Tree Celtis occidentalis and related species Hackberry of Sugarberry Plantanus (all species) Plane Tree Eucalyptus spathulata Swamp Mallee Cotoneaster serotinus Cotoneaster Eucalyptus stoatei Pear Gum Populus – nigra & all related species Poplar Erythrina indica hybrida Indian Coral Tree Ribinia pseudoacacia False Acacia Eucalyptus websteriana Websters Mallee Eucalyptus cneorifolia Kangaroo Island Narrow - Leaf Mallee Euonymus japonicus Evergreen Spindle-Tree Salix babylonica and related species Weeping Willow Eucalyptus conglobata Port Lincoln Mallee Schinus molle Pepper Tree Feijoa sellowiana and forms Pineapple Guava Eucalyptus ficifolia Red Flowering Gum Geijera parviflora Wilga Tamaric aphylla Athel Tree Eucalyptus gardneri Blue Mallee Ulmus procera and related species English Elm Hakea elliptica Oval-Leaf Hakea Eucalyptus incrassata Yellow Mallee Pincushion Hakea Eucalyptus intertexta Gum Barked Coolabah Sea-Urchin Hakea Eucalyptus lansdowneana Crimson Mallee Box Climatic and growing conditions vary widely throughout Hakea saligna Willow-Leaf Hakea Eucalyptus lehmannii Bushy Yate - Eucalyptus leucoxylon rosea Red Flowered Yellow Gum East Gippsland. These lists must not be considered as exhaustive - Eucalyptus megacornuta Warty Yate and are offered as a guide only. Koelreuteria paniculate Golden Rain Tree Eucalyptus nutans Red Flowered Mort Lagerstroemia indica Pink Crepe-Myrtle Eucalyptus pileata Ravensthorpe Mallee