Eighteen long-established trees along Yarragon’s Rollo Street could soon meet council chainsaws if a short notice reconstruction plan goes ahead.
The draft plan, published on the Baw Baw Shire’s website on Wednesday, suggests all plane trees planted along the street will be removed and replaced as part of wider works.
A council spokesperson said those “directly affected” by the works have been notified, but the general public only has until 5pm Friday to provide feedback. That’s just 10 days from publication online.
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The feedback process does not utilise Baw Baw’s usual Have Your Say web platform, instead simply providing a number for the council’s infrastructure planning and growth team. (That’s 5624 2411.)
Works outlined in the plan are focussed on the section of road between Princes Highway and Campbell Street, and also include kerb and channel, road alignment adjustment, road pavement widening, and drainage works.
Image: the draft plans. Click here to view the full PDF on the Baw Baw Shire Council website.
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The trees, planted in nature strip on the east side of the street and in the hard shoulder on the west, will be replaced with 19 Japanese elms planted in nature strips.
A council media release states an arborist had assessed the health of the trees, indicating “the proposed works are likely to impact the trees root system and recommends the trees be replaced with smaller Japanese elm on both sides of the road.”
“We want to offer local residents a first-hand look at the proposed road reconstruction works that will improve safety and access for the Yarragon community and visitors,” Baw Baw mayor Joe Gauci said in the media release.
These trees are beautiful, why? There is no good reason to cut them down, leave them alone!
Removing urban trees, or any trees for that matter, is a serious matter, tragic even. Trees tell stories, stories that both involve as well as ignore people. Trees provide habitat and can do unpredictable things. How people react to such obstacles is where creative living exists. Leave the trees there and find a way of living with them.
“The arborist has assessed the trees..”. Why not leave them and see whether they are seriously damaged before ripping out lovely trees that have taken years to establish themselves. Baw Baw shire has an ambivalent relationship with trees and I am not convinced that the advise that they receive is always correct.
We happen to live in Rollo street and have 2 of these trees are out the front of our house one on each side of the road. Both have managed to push up the road surface making it very rough.The tree roots in the storm water drains and the massive amount of leaves in our yard. Can’t wait till their gone. We’re all for fixing the road, improving the drainage as all the water runs off the road into our yard, so kerb and channelling is what is needed so long as the residents are not burdened with any of the cost and Parallel parking is a good idea on both sides, as this might stop people parking on our front lawn when church is on.