Barking up wrong tree

By Kath Gannaway
YARRA Ranges Council has sent VicRoads back to the drawing board on the installation of traffic lights at the Melba and Maroondah highways intersection at Coldstream.
The council rejected an application by VicRoads for the removal of a large tree on the road reserve which VicRoads said must go to enable the $1.5 million project to proceed.
The debate on whether the 23 metre high southern mahogany should go or stay, resulted in a four/four tie with Councillor Jeanette McRae, acting as chairperson in Cr Len Cox’s absence, using her casting vote to refuse the permit.
A VicRoads spokeswoman told the council meeting on Tuesday 27 January that there had been 13 accidents at the intersection since 1990 and that this statistic, along with the high traffic use, particularly on weekends and public holidays, had driven the installation of traffic lights.
Crs Heenan, Warren, Higgins and Templer argued strongly that the works needed to proceed without delay, warning against putting trees before people’s lives.
Cr Samantha Dunn, who moved the motion to refuse the permit, said the tree was a landmark tree at a significant gateway to the Yarra Valley.
Both Cr Dunn and Cr McRae argued for better engineering solutions.
Cr McRae said there was already an alternative design which had been rejected by VicRoads because of additional cost, but which would not require the removal of the tree.
She questioned the criteria on which the VicRoads preferred design included two lanes at the intersection heading towards Healesville, saying the volume of traffic heading in that direction at the peak use times didn’t warrant two lanes.
Cr Dunn also supported the option of widening the southern side of Maroondah Highway as a win/win which would see the lights installed without the loss of the tree.
Liberal Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe has labelled the decision outrageous saying council dither-ing had already caused lengthy delays.
She added however, that while VicRoads “had bent over backwards to accommodate requested changes to the plans” the need for revisions indicated the intersection was not the best choice for lights in the first place.
Ms Fyffe is calling for lights to be installed at the Maroondah Highway/Killara Road intersection saying that was where the majority of Coldstream residents wanted them to go.
VicRoads Regional Director Steve Brown said his organisation had looked at a number of other options for the intersection at the council’s request, including widening the southern side of the Maroondah Highway.
“This option would have led to the removal of six smaller trees and would have a greater impact on nearby private properties,” he said.
“Following the council’s decision on Tuesday, VicRoads is considering its position on where the project goes from here,” he added.