A Wyndham councillor has slammed the removal of two historic trees to make way for a road extension near the Riverwalk Estate at Werribee.
Cr Mia Shaw spoke out against the removal of the two Monterey Cypress trees, which are believed to have been planted during the 1920s as part of the Calder Memorial Avenue, in memory of William Calder, the first chairman of the Country Roads Board.
The trees, which are located within the Geelong Road/Princes Highway road reserve opposite a T-intersection on Alfred Road, will be removed due to the proposed extension of the road, while three other trees at the site will be retained.
The Riverwalk Estate developers, Development Victoria, do not require a permit to remove the two Monterey Cypress trees, which are considered non-native, being South Australian, rather than native to Victoria.
The details of the trees’ removal were included in a planning permit application, seeking permission for a residential subdivision as part of the Riverwalk Estate, considered by the council last week.
Cr Shaw said she believed the proposed subdivision would “result in a significant loss of amenity in this significant gateway to our city”.
Cr Shaw said that she was “deeply concerned” about loss of the heritage trees, one of which has already been removed.
Although Cr Shaw, Cr Tony Hooper and mayor Peter Maynard voted against the Riverwalk subdivision proposal, it was passed by the other councillors present.
In March, many Wyndham residents protested against the removal of 200 trees along Farm Road.
