Battle lines have been re-established in a fight over restoring historic view lines to Mount Macedon Memorial Cross and saving vulnerable snow gums from destruction.
Parks Victoria has gained ministerial approval to remove snow gums and other vegetation (about 0.8 hectares) to reinstate view lines to the war memorial ahead of Anzac Day.
The works, beginning last week, have angered environmental groups who feel ignored after fighting the same proposal, and seeing it rejected, in 2023.
“We are devastated to see this precious remnant of snow gum forest being destroyed for a view,” said Cam Walker, Friends of the Earth campaigner.
“There are already several viewpoints from the top of Mount Macedon, so we do not need to clear any more forest.”
The Mount Macedon snow gum populations represent the highest altitude stands within the shire and are documented to be among the largest occurring outside eastern Victoria and the Alpine regions.
However, Parks Victoria maintains that Mount Macedon Memorial Cross is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register for historic, social and aesthetic reasons — including its views to and from Melbourne.
Since the Ash Wednesday bushfires in 1983, considerable tree growth below the cross is now obscuring views.
Parks Victoria northwest regional director, Chris Mitchell, told the Express the tree felling project would progress to restore clear views to and from the site.
“Contractors will remove tree debris and invasive weeds over the coming week to make the site safe and accessible ahead of Anzac Day,” he said
“The viewing area from the cross will be much smaller than in the past, in line with environmental and community expectations.”
Mr Mitchell said no alpine ash tree had been removed and that Parks Victoria had completed detailed planning for the works.
COUNCIL UNAWARE
As managers of the regional park, Parks Victoria applied to Macedon Ranges Shire Council in July, 2023, to clear snow gums and vegetation to retore view lines to the memorial.
While council officers supported the plan, councillors rejected it in a 6-3 vote for a range of reasons. The proposal triggered passionate debate, with 62 public objections, mostly relating to loss of significant vegetation, and 36 submissions of support, many supporting the war veteran community.
Park Victoria appealed the decision at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal but abandoned that challenge for a more direct route.
Last year, Parks Victoria applied to the Minister for Planning, Sonia Kilkenny, seeking approval through designation as a project of state significance. This allowed the project to be approved behind closed doors.
Macedon Ranges mayor Kate Kendall confirmed the council had not been part of the latest decision-making process by the minister.
“Council notes that Parks Victoria has progressed this proposal through alternate avenues available to them, and the Victorian Government has made the final decision on this matter. Council also acknowledges differing views and concerns on this issue in the community,” she said.
The matter is expected to be raised at this week’s meeting of council. Both Cr Jennifer Anderson and Cr Daniel Young have lodged notices of motions in response to the project. Both state the council was unaware of the application to the minister and call for an explanation on the decision-making process.
NO STOPPING
Despite council being unaware of the process, a Parks Victoria statement said Ms Kilkenny determined consultation requirements had been satisfied.
Preparation works for tree felling at the site began last Monday and works are expected to continue, in line with the planning minister’s approval.
Parks Victoria stated, to minimise impacts on native plant life, native shrubs, grasses, herbs and sedges would be kept where possible.
Tree stumps are expected to remain in place to reduce soil disturbance and erosion, and contractors will use rubber-tracked machinery to lower ground pressure at the site and minimise damage to grasses and shrubs.
They state a minimal amount of re-growth snow gums will be removed and a revegetation program is being planned to plant snow gums in and near the park.
Parks Victoria expects that the views will require “limited annual maintenance” due to the vegetation types and topography of the site.