By KATH GANNAWAY
A YARRA Junction man who says a vegetation buffer zone protected under a VCAT order has been illegally trashed, is calling on Yarra Ranges Council to make sure it is reinstated – as it was.
The 15-metre fenced strip of land runs along the western boundary of the Hoddle Street housing development providing a treed buffer for Rob and Terri Tresidder’s seven-acre rural property.
Mr Tresidder told the Mail he was dumbfounded on Saturday, 23 November, when he saw machinery cutting down trees and undergrowth in the protection zone on a recently purchased block on Yarra Ridge Crescent.
“I had seen the owner just an hour before and he said nothing about it,” Mr Tresider said.
He said he spoke to the machinery operator who stopped work, but returned a short time later and continued with the job claiming the owner had told him to keep going.
“The excavator driver knew there was an issue; I read him the VCAT decision and asked him “Do you know what you are doing is illegal?” and whether he had seen a written permit,” Mr Tresidder told the Mail.
He said while the VCAT decision allowed for weed control and the removal of some tee-tree, which he supported for the safety of his neighbours, there were clear rules regarding the removal of trees and other restrictions on the use of the buffer zone.
Mr Tresidder is calling on the council to ensure any trees and other vegetation found to have been removed illegally, are reinstated at the same size.
Yarra Ranges Council is responsible for monitoring the 10-year management period which was a condition of the VCAT decision.
“Council’s compliance team is currently investigating to make an assessment of the damage and any revegetation work that may be required,” planning director Andrew Paxton said.
He said any planning breach was considered a serious offence, but would not comment on whether council has the ability to demand that mature trees be replanted where there is a breach of the rules.
He said any resident with concerns about illegal vegetation removal should contact the council on 1300 368 333.
The owner of the property concerned was contacted by the Mail but declined to comment.
