The decades-old gums on Old Coach Road were cut down by council contractors on Thursday – despite complaints from Residents and Ratepayers of Berwick Village and local residents. Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
By Nicole Williams
THE limbs of the Old Coach Road trees have fallen for the last time after council contractors made the final cut on Thursday.
Workmen acted swiftly to remove the decades-old gums on Thursday after the Residents and Ratepayers of Berwick Village (RRFBV) withdrew its VCAT application last month.
City of Casey Council CEO Mike Tyler said the trees were due to be removed months ago but an interim enforcement order delayed the works.
“Ultimately, and just prior to the hearing of the enforcement order application and on the basis of their own legal advice, the applicants for the enforcement order withdrew their application,” he said.
“Council was then able to remove the 22 trees deemed a safety risk as originally intended.”
But Annette Aldersea, president of the RRFBV, said council carried out a deliberate act of environmental vandalism.
“Us withdrawing didn’t mean they had to take the tress out,” she said.
“You can’t replace them, when they’re gone they’re gone.
“There was not a safety risk at all and that was council’s first argument, but they found a loop hole.
“It sets a nasty precedent – no tree is safe.”
RRFBV took the council to VCAT in August to stop the axing of more than 20 trees for safety concerns and VCAT handed down an enforcement order preventing the removal of the majority of the trees.
A second hearing was scheduled for 24 and 25 September but the RRFBV withdrew its application on legal advice.
Ms Aldersea now alleges the council found a loophole after a property owner declared the trees were a bushfire risk under a clause in the Bushfire Exemption – which is currently under review by Casey Council and Department of Sustainability and Environment.
“There is a high chance that area won’t be in fire risk zone (once the review is complete),” Ms Aldersea said.
“There is a good chance that if they had waited two months that those trees would not have come out.”
Nearby resident Craig Allen said the City of Casey was fully accountable for removing the trees.
“The City of Casey’s officers made no attempt to consult local residents prior to their vandalism of our suburb,” he said.
“Now each morning my family looks out at Telstra Towers, Powerlines, a water tank and a new residence devoid of shade!”
Mr Allen said the original argument regarding safety held no merit as the trees had stood for decades.
“This public safety justification has little merit as the footpath for Old Coach Road is located on the opposite side of the road,” he said
“As for the matter of safety for the residents of the adjoining property, the trees were setback from the property line on council’s own nature strip, so why didn’t the council propose regular trimming or pruning as it would’ve been considerably less expensive and preserve the amenity of the area?”
“I find it unbelievable the City of Casey’s own Parks and Gardens’ employees would willingly be prepared to destroy the natural amenity of our area without any thought of a compromise,” he said.
