By Ann Marie Angebrandt
THE Wyndham City Council has taken the axe to nine, 60-year-old golden cypress trees that stood by the Princes Highway.
A small group of protesters, representing more than 1000 petition-signing objectors watched last Thursday as cranes removed the trees between Wattle Ave and Tower Rd.
“I feel as though a part of my heart has been ripped out,” said Lori McLean, one of the protesters.
Workers made shavings of the 15-metre tall trees on-site, and council will use the mulch on public garden beds.
Council originally decided to chop down all 16 golden cypress trees last year, after a limb from one dropped and damaged a fence.
However, council reduced the number to nine after examining several arborists’ reports and following community protest.
An extremely disappointed Charlie Buttigieg, who is the spokesman for Save the Golden Cypress Trees, said the group had fought for almost two years to keep the trees, which formed a majestic gateway to Werribee.
“Since this started I’ve been inundated with phone calls and I think residents are going to show their disgust at the next council election,” he said.
Protesters’ efforts included obtaining alternative arborists’ reports on the health of the trees, and taking the council’s decision to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The Tribunal ruled late last month that the council’s plan to chop the trees should stand.
“The approach to the removal and replacement of trees in this reserve is appropriate and responsible and can readily be justified,” said VCAT member Des Eccles in his ruling.
The trees will be replaced with new golden cypress trees at least two metres high by early next year.
Fast-growing natives at least a metre high will be planted at the rear of the remaining golden cypress plantation to screen fences.
Mr Buttigeig said residents would closely monitor the council’s landscaping activities to ensure it adhered exactly to planning permit conditions.
He said one positive to come out of the campaign was council’s decision to produce an inventory of local trees and adopt a significant tree register.
“Now that they have an idea of their horticultural assets, this hopefully will never happen again.”
The trees were planted in the late 1940s on land used by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, and served as a wind break and screen for experimental irrigation works.
In 1995, the council took ownership of the land.
