By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
Developers blamed as probe launched…
CASEY council is investigating the illegal clearing of tall, mature gum trees on the purchased former Doveton Secondary College site.
A nearby resident Robert, who alerted the council to the vandalism on trees including several eucalypts fronting Ficifolia Drive on 1 May, said the “attractive vista” had been destroyed as well as his hope that part of the site could be used as parkland.
“They cut down up to eight quite massive eucalypts to stumps – perfectly healthy trees,“ he said.
“How do you put a price on it? You can’t just instantly grow another mature tree.”
He said he’d noticed a “small tree-lopping truck” and workers sawing down trees working out from the centre of the block in early April.
Late last month he noticed “several significant trees” on Ficifolia Drive had been removed, although a dead tree had been retained among a woodchip heap and fallen logs.
Neighbour Trisha Saladrigas said the trees fronting Box Street had also been felled “and then they started working their way around”.
“If they didn’t get a permit, it’s a bit wrong.”
The council and a “very concerned” Education Department confirmed last week that neither gave permission for destroying the trees and other vegetation.
The site is regulated by the council’s native vegetation controls and a council permit would have been required to legally remove any trees.
The vandalism also undermines the council’s specific regulations for the site that developments must incorporate any significant native vegetation in the design.
It must maintain the “long-term, sustainable health and condition of existing vegetation” and avoid the dripline of any retained river red gum trees.
Neither Casey nor the Education Department would disclose the identity of the purchaser who bought the 58,000 square-metre site for $10.6 million in May last year.
The site – earmarked by the council for medium-density housing – is still Crown land because the purchase has not yet settled.
Prior to its sale, the former campus was promoted as a residential development opportunity with four street frontages, adjoining parkland and a nearby golfcourse.
Do you know who the developer is? Any tips on who lopped the trees? Send your tips to journal@starnewsgroup.com.au or our Journal News page on Facebook.
