Macedon Ranges Shire Council is calling on Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny to explain removal of significant trees from Mount Macedon without notification.
Parks Victoria has gained ministerial approval to remove snow gums and other vegetation to reinstate view lines to Mount Macedon Memorial Cross ahead of Anzac Day.
Works began earlier this month without council knowledge and directly in opposition to the council’s judgement on the project nearly two years ago.
Parks Victoria appealed the decision to the planning minister, seeking approval through designation as a project of state significance. The process typically encourages community consultation and assessment against relevant policies.
However, last week, councillors called on the minister to give evidence as to exactly how the decision was made.
Leading the charge, Cr Jennifer Anderson said people in the community “felt quite upset and traumatised by what has happened and the process that has occurred”.
She said there was no evidence of assessment against, the Statement of Planning Policy and consultation was “of concern”.
“We had no notice of this happening, were not advised that we could have some input into it, and nor was the community.”
Community consultation on the project occurred when council assessed an application back in July, 2023. At that time it attracted 62 public objections, mostly relating to loss of significant vegetation, and 36 submissions of support, many supporting the war veteran community.
Despite council being unaware of the latest state government decision, a Parks Victoria statement said Ms Kilkenny determined consultation requirements had been satisfied.
Cr Cassie Borthwick said the council had a responsibility to seek accountability and clarity when significant local planning decisions are overturned without consultation.
“We often acknowledge that state government may override decisions we make, but override should not mean exclusion,” she said.
“If we do not ask questions now, we normalise this process where state declarations can bypass local knowledge entirely, and leave communities feeling powerless and unheard.”
One of the councillors to have been involved in the original decision against the tree removal, Cr Rob Guthrie, called the minister’s decision “environmental vandalism”.
Cr Daniel Young had intended to move a similar motion last week and supported gaining clarity on the state government’s decision-making.
The council will write to the Minister for Planning seeking her to publicly release details of how the application was assessed as complying with consultation requirements and how she has assessed the application as being consistent with the Macedon Ranges Statement of Planning Policy.
Council will also write to Parks Victoria, requesting an assessment by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action of what biodiversity/vegetation offset would be required had this project not been determined under the State Project pathway.
MRSC will also request that they do provide an offset for the vegetation removal and impact on understorey species and that this be within the Macedon Ranges Local government area.