By PETER DOUGLAS
FIFTY-THREE trees will be removed from road reserves within the Selby and Belgrave areas to enable the installation of sewerage systems.
At its 22 March meeting, Yarra Ranges Council passed a recommendation to allow the removal of the trees for the continuation of the Belgrave and Selby Sewerage scheme, which had been halted due to hard ground conditions.
Rock formations in the area had stopped the trenchless techniques that had been proposed.
The streets targeted for vegetation removal in the area include Park Drive, Arbor Avenue, Waratah Avenue, Maple Avenue, Cedar Grove, Currajong Avenue, Beech Avenue, Montana Grove, Maskell Hill Road and Banyalla Court.
Five objections were submitted over the proposal, with the proposal also failing to gain support from Cr Len Cox, who said more could be done to save the trees.
“It seems to be the pipe could go along the middle of the road,” Cr Cox said.
“That could eliminate the tree loss that we’re having now, it’s just common sense.”
Cr Cox said the community had a right to be upset.
“How do you replace a 200-year-old tree with a seedling that may never see the light of day?” he said.
“There’s been some effort made, but the issue of cutting down trees was stopped completely, unless there’s no other option at all.
“Under no circumstances could I vote for this.”
However, councillors Mike Clarke and Jim Child said the works needed to go ahead.
Cr Clarke said the original proposal was no longer viable.
“I’m the last person you’d expect to be supporting the removal of the trees, but they (South East Water) feel they’ve done their due diligence,” Cr Clarke said.
“In conversations with them, the drill has stopped dead when it hit the rock, this is a diamond-tipped drill that’s burnt out in an hour.”
