By MELISSA MEEHAN
TECOMA residents gathered in Dickinson Street as a large grey box tree was removed from a residential property.
While the owner of the property rejoiced at the tree’s removal, some of his neighbours weren’t so enthusiastic – many questioning the need for a 10/30 law.
Neighbour Andrew McPherson said he was disappointed to see such a tree go from the area, given the property lay in a wildlife corridor.
“Our neighbour is doing nothing wrong,” Mr McPherson said.
“He didn’t need to get a permit, because of the 10/30 rules.
“But surely this shows the problem with this.”
Mr McPherson said the trees acted as a buffer for local wildlife to the township, and locals had seen a number of powerful owls in the area.
“These new rules mean anything can be cut down within a certain radius of a home, no questions asked,” he said.
“So people who think a tree may be dangerous, even if it isn’t, can just chop it down.”
Yarra Ranges Council director Building, Planning and Health, Andrew Paxton said council understood Mr McPherson’s concern.
“The 10/30 rules were introduced by the State Government as a part of a package of bushfire protection regulations in all Victorian Planning Schemes,” Mr Paxton said.
“Unfortunately, these rules are a blanket control in that they allow people to remove vegetation without any need for permission through council, planning or otherwise, regardless of whether the trees are part of a significant landscape or biodiversity corridor.”
He said council officers were unable to check works as land owners removed trees, utilising the exemptions within the planning scheme and without any requirement to notify the council.
“While the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme has a very strong commitment to protecting vegetation and areas of environmental significance, the State Government introduced exemptions override any other local planning controls pertaining to trees,” he said.
“Council compliance officers will check that tree removals meet the 10/30 exemptions if they are advised such work is occurring, or has occurred.”
