A Cairnlea resident believes the Defence Department has overlooked fauna by removing sugar gums from a planned mixed-use precinct without adequate checks.
As reported by the Weekly, Cairnlea residents formed a community group last October amid concerns the gateway to Cairnlea was in danger of becoming a “concrete city”, with 146 townhouses,
50 apartments and 80 commercial sites planned for the vacant lot adjacent to Cairnlea Drive.
The group strongly rejected Places Victoria’s plans to set up industry and also had concerns with the proposed removal of more than 300 sugar gum trees, which were deemed a “safety risk”, according to an arborist’s report organised by PV.
The department, which owns the land, started removing some of the trees last Friday.
Resident Benjamin Morovic said he didn’t believe a fauna assessment had been completed.
“It would’ve been logical to include this in the initial notification to residents,” he said.
Residents living in Bannes Road, Cochrane Street and Silverdale Walk were notified of the works by letter on February 5.
“I seriously doubt they have completed an adequate study on the native fauna that may be living there – in particular native birds that live in tree hollows,” Mr Morovic said.
The letter to residents, seen by the
Weekly, said a number of trees on land next to Bannes Road, Cochrane Street and Silverdale Walk were in decay and had overextended limbs.
A Defence spokesman would not reveal if a fauna assessment was undertaken.
“An arborist assessment of the trees on the Defence site was undertaken in December 2013,” he said.
“This assessment identified that 22 trees need to be removed and a further 14 pruned in order to address safety issues arising from the condition of the trees.
“Any further removal of trees to facilitate development will need to be undertaken by Places Victoria following transfer of the site from Defence.”
BEN CAMERON
