By JESSE GRAHAM
CARDINIA Shire Council has said that no decision has been made on replanting trees at Emerald’s Worrell Reserve, nine months after chopping down the land’s old trees.
The Mail reported on 22 October 2013 that 50 Monrerey cypress trees were removed from Worrell Reserve, in order to make way for a Neighbourhood Safer Place (NSP) for the town.
The move was described as a last resort by then mayor Brett Owen who said at the time that the council had an obligation to protect the community.
It was noted that the reserve’s removed trees would be replaced with fire-resistant trees, and that a large number of trees would be planted at Pepi’s Land to offset the removal.
Nine months on, Cardinia Council’s manager of Community Risk and Emergency Management, Myles O’Reil said that no decision had been made.
“Council has made no decision on the replanting at Worrell Reserve, Emerald,” he said.
“Council will undertake further community consultation regarding replanting options,” he said.
The council, along with John Hills Landcare, is running a tree planting session at Pepi’s Land, with 1500 trees, on Saturday 26 July.
For more information, call Cardinia Shire Council on 1300 787 624.
