Leeanne McRae is not alone. No-one at the school where the oak trees stand is a fan and neighbours have told Ms McRae they move their vehicles up the road to get away from the trees.
Ms McRae said she moved into her house opposite Sara Cohen School near the end of 2024.
She had no idea the three large oak trees across the road from her house would cause such a problem.
‘‘The trees are black. It’s really damaging my vehicle, on the roof, on the bonnet. It has just covered the whole car,’’ she said.
‘‘My truck’s meant to be a light blue; it’s black on the roof, the bonnet, everywhere. It’s just really, really bad.
‘‘It doesn’t just wipe off. It literally has to be scrubbed. It’s not good for the paintwork. It’s actually damaged my truck paintwork pretty bad.’’
Ms McRae had contacted them more than three times before they came out.
She did not park near the trees, but parked in the residential complex she lived in yet the truck was still covered in sap and aphids.
Paying for a deep grooming of the car was not an option and she said it was difficult to get on to the roof of the vehicle to clean it. Scrubbing would do as much damage to the vehicle as the aphids and sap.
Sara Cohen School principal Matthew Tofia was no fan of the trees and said their sap covered vehicles and many parts of the school. He wanted them gone, but it was a long process.
A DCC spokesperson said it was aware of the residents’ concerns and staff had visited to explain the situation and offer advice.
Issues with aphids typically only lasted about three weeks, and council advice was to avoid parking under the trees while issues persisted.
The trees were not listed as protected or significant, the council said.
