Support for gum chop

By Kath Gannaway
THE Shire of Yarra Ranges has enlisted the support of key community groups in Yarra Glen to plan the removal of 15 sugar gums.
Six of the trees on the Melba Highway between Pinoak Avenue and the northern outskirts of the town have been identified as having a severe risk rating and are earmarked for imminent removal.
The remaining nine would need to be removed by 2030 and in the meantime would require severe pruning and constant maintenance.
The state of the trees was outlined in a report compiled by an independent arborist and presented on Friday to a specially convened meeting of shire representatives, the Yarra Glen Chamber of Commerce, Historical Society, Yarra Valley Tree Group and the Yarra Glen Interim Township Steering Committee.
Ryrie Ward councillor Jeanette McRae, the council’s manager, asset maintenance and services Grant Jack, trees and bushland coordinator Paul Mechelen, and parks and bushlands arborist Mark Delaney put the case to the community representatives stating openly that they were looking to consult with the local community before any removal takes place and to work with the community on the most acceptable way to manage what, historically, has resulted in uproar – removal of trees with no prior community consultation.
While there was agreement by all representatives that all 15 trees, which are not native to Victoria, needed to go, there were also concerns that a blanket removal would leave a bare and unattractive entrance to the town.
The need to balance the cost of maintaining the remaining nine trees over a long period of time was also an issue.
Cr McRae advised the group that an agreement was in place for the planting of an avenue of 112 Yarra Gum trees between Gulf Station and Armstrong Grove at the northern entrance to the town which could be built on to replace the sugar gums and continue the avenue of trees through into the township.
A fact sheet will go out to Yarra Glen residents advising them of the process for the removal and replacement of the trees – six trees to be moved immediately and the remaining nine to be pruned substantially with phased removal over the next few years.