It is with much disappointment and disgust that I write to you about an incident in my street in Port Macquarie.

Two trucks turned up in the bottom of the cul de sac from Port Macquarie Hastings Council. Their job was to trim an overhanging branch that was obstructing the garbage truck from turning around in the bottom of the street. However, not long into this operation with their noisy machinery, one of the residents brought to the men's attention, that there was a very distressed koala in the tree. He was so distressed with the noise and movement, that he was climbing up and down not knowing where to go. The men shrugged it off, and said they had a job to do, and that the koala could move on. The koala however didn't move on. With all of the noise and commotion, he continued to climb up and down in distress.

With no action to protect this threatened animal, the resident came inside to ring the council. The woman who answered told him the same thing, and said the men had a job to do.

If perhaps it had been a venomous snake in the tree, and in danger of striking one of these men, I have no doubt they would not have continued.

However, a defenceless and frightened koala doesn't matter. This is outrageous and disappointing to say the least.

Shame shame shame Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.

Anne Schofield

Port Macquarie