Cairnlea residents are demanding that Places Victoria produce an arborist’s report that claims 300 sugar gums should be removed from the area for safety reasons.
As reported by the Weekly, residents will attempt to stop industry playing a key role in the planned Cairnlea mixed-use precinct and are disgusted a kilometre-long stretch of trees will be removed.
About 750 indigenous trees will be planted elsewhere on the site.
A Places Victoria representative told a community meeting earlier this month the sugar gums were prone to shedding limbs and would pose a safety risk.
A resident said they had been informed the trees were “diseased”.
Residents held a community meeting last Thursday, outlining almost 30 perceived flaws with the plan, including the future use of “contamination hill” next to the Western Highway as a “1000 steps-style” lookout. The group, which has started a petition, will send a letter to Planning Minister Matthew Guy.
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Cairnlea’s Angela Hamilton said Places Victoria had denied her request to see the aborist’s report.
“According to [Places Victoria] all the trees in the report are dangerous and need to be removed,” she said.
“Cairnlea is an environmental rose. It is a western suburb that’s proud of its history and shows a way forward with a green mindset.”
Western Metropolitan Greens MP Colleen Hartland said she had concerns about the safety of the site, following the Weekly’s reports last year that soil had been contaminated with explosives chemicals.
An EPA spokeswoman said a groundwater audit was under way.
‘‘Prior to the redevelopment of the site, the planning authority may require that an environmental audit be completed to ensure potentially contaminated land is suitable for its intended use, or to advise how to make the land suitable for its intended use,’’ she said.
A Places Victoria spokesman said the aborist’s report would be made available as part of a planning application.
