Project Update April 2023
Following our communications in 27 September 2022, we’ve obtained a permit to remove 11 native trees. These trees are highly impacted due to their proximity to the drainage works and, in some cases, because they are in poor health.
Under the dangerous tree exemption rules, we will remove an additional Swamp Gum due to its poor health condition.
Environmental weeds removal will also take place along Melbourne Hill and Houghton roads as part of these works. This will improve conditions for locally indigenous flora species (including new and established trees) to grow naturally within the immediate environment. It will also benefit indigenous flora by opening up the canopy layer spaces and reducing competition for light. Additionally, these works will reduce exotic leaf litter contributing to the suppression of native species and future spread of weeds.
Please see the attached map for the environmental weeds clearance area.
The table below outlines characteristics of the 12 native trees to be removed.
No of trees |
Indigenous |
Dead |
Early Mature |
3 |
|
Semi Mature |
7 |
1 |
Mature |
1 |
Community Feedback
We are highly appreciative of your participation in the community information session and the feedback received. We’ve now responded to all of your feedback.
We’d like to emphasise that in developing the design, we have worked with a professional and qualified arborist to assess the impacts on vegetation in line with the Australian standards. A tree management plan has been prepared and will be implemented during the works. It is our intention that the pipes near the trees are installed using root sympathetic techniques, to reduce impacts on the trees.
We will only remove trees in unavoidable situations.
What’s next?
By late April, we’ll appoint contractor to remove the 12 trees (and environmental weeds) from the road reserve. The removal works will begin in early May and are expected to take 1-2 weeks (weather permitting).
When the drainage construction works are completed, we’ll revegetate the road reserve with local, indigenous species.
We’ll make every effort to reduce inconvenience to community during the removal of vegetation.
If you would like more details, please join us for a face-to-face information session on Thursday 27 April 2023 from 11am to 12pm at the park in front of 100 Melbourne Hill Road, Warrandyte. During this session, we will further explain the process, reason, and outcome of the weed removal (including shrubs and small trees identified as environmental weeds) works.
Follow below link for more information about Environmental Weeds:
www.manningham.vic.gov.au/protecting-our-environment/protecting-plants-and-ecology#environmental_weeds_and_pest_plants