June 7th, 2024Going, going … gone

One of the protected and historic cedar trees along Malmsbury Road has been felled to make way for
road access for the Middleton Field housing estate.

The tree was behind temporary fencing with black plastic over the top, dotted with signs saying “TREE
PROTECTION ZONES – KEEP OUT”.

Hepburn Shire Councillor Jen Bray said on social media it was “very sad to see this majestic tree coming down”.

“Council did manage to save the other tree which was proposed to be cut down by putting the condition that only one, not two trees, be allowed to be removed for the road access.

“The final decision to grant the permit for this development was made by the Minister for Planning last
year. The rest of the trees are to be protected in a public reserve managed by council.”

Daylesford resident Debora Mermadeit, who has long advocated for the trees’ protection, said the “whole process was a travesty…including councillors not getting to the bottom of exactly why even a single tree was slated to go”.

“Bureaucratic bungling and lack of rigour by all levels of council/executive branch and councillors alike led to this. It could have been avoided.

“While it is great the developers and council were finally convinced to place the remainder of the trees in a reserve it was a hard slog and had the trees’ significance been acknowledged by all from day one, including all levels of council, the removal of even one tree could have been avoided.”

Words: Donna Kelly | Main image: Kevin Childs | Inset: Kyle Barnes