Parks Victoria
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Heritage questioned in cross tree clearing
A dispute has emerged between the Victorian National Parks Association and Parks Victoria over woodland clearing works at Mount Macedon, with differing interpretations of the heritage basis for the project. The controversy centres on vulnerable snow gum removal near the Mount Macedon Memorial Cross, which Parks Victoria says was undertaken to restore views associated with…
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Kilkenny ‘please explain’
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…
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Snow gums to be removed for view
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,…
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Push for safer parking
Liberal MP for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell spoke in parliament last week asking that the Minister for Environment fund construction of new on-site parking at Expedition Pass Reservoir in the 2026-27 state budget. Mount Alexander Shire Council has identified a location for building a new car park on Parks Victoria land on Llewellyn Road, Chewton.…
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Deer control to begin
The impact of increasing feral deer populations has put control of numbers in the spotlight. Parks Victoria will, this week, begin its night deer control program in Macedon Regional Park with licensed and professional shooting contractors. Deer are an introduced species and Parks Victoria recognises they “pose significant risks to native biodiversity, water quality, public…
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Wildlife concern over tree clearing
Macedon and Mount Macedon Landcare has flagged concern over mechanical mulching of native forest at Mount Macedon in place of a planned burn. MMML president Kate Lawrence said the five-hectare site was home to native wildlife and the move “made no sense”. “It is just devastating to walk around this area that was a native…
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The government’s bitumen
EXCLUSIVE – The state government denied responsibility for a public road in the Mount Alexander Regional Park and for years failed its statutory duty to inspect, repair and maintain its condition. Joseph Young Drive is an 8.5km stretch of winding road that cuts through the regional park from one end to the other. It amassed…
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Vegetation over views
Macedon Ranges Council has refused a divisive proposal to remove vegetation at the Mount Macedon Regional Park. Parks Victoria’s application aimed to reinstate the Mount Macedon Memorial Cross viewscape, which has been lost due to regrowth and lack of maintenance. The proposal triggered passionate debate, with 62 objections, many relating to loss of significant vegetation,…
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Cross plan splits views
Plans to remove native vegetation to restore historic views to Melbourne from the Mount Macedon Memorial Cross have prompted passionate debate. The cross is considered the second most significant war memorial in Victoria but decades of growth have altered its original view lines. Parks Victoria’s viewscape project seeks to clear 0.79 hectares of native vegetation…
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Mass duck casualties under investigation
Lisa DennisParks Victoria and wildlife experts are investigating a mass casualty event involving ducks and other birdlife at Bells Swamp Conservation Reserve at Neerman just outside Maldon. Local wildlife carer and volunteer wildlife rescuer Sam told the Express the issue was first reported on January 29. “I saw a post on Castlemania where a local…
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Celebrating our goldfields past
Chewton Domain Society and Parks Victoria are holding a double celebration to mark the 20th birthday of Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park and to commemorate the Diggers’ 1851 Monster Meeting next month. The event will be held on Sunday December 11 at the Monster Meeting site in Golden Point Road, Chewton. Parks rangers will lead…
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Don’t trash our bushland
Chewton residents are outraged after a significant quantity of rubbish was discovered illegally dumped in bushland in the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park. Among locals demanding action to clean up, and better police, the unsightly practice, Chewton’s John Ellis said the mess was discovered in bushland off Morgan Track.“It just makes me bloody angry,” Mr…