By Melissa Donchi
THE Shire of Yarra Ranges application to remove seven poplar trees along Badger Creek Road is facing strong opposition from the community.
More than 32 objections have been lodged with the shire since the proposal was made public late last year.
The issue was supposed to have gone to a full council meeting by the end of this month but a strong community interest has delayed the application.
Instead the shire held an information evening last week at Memorial Hall in Healesville to give residents the opportunity to understand the planning process and form a committee for the council meeting scheduled for April.
About 16 people attended the meeting and at least eight formed a committee called Save the Poplars.
Another meeting has been scheduled for March, this time with an aborist and local environment group HEWI which was widely believed to be the driving force behind the shire’s proposal.
HEWI has based its argument on what it says is the need to remove the trees which it describes as weeds.
The group has been working with Melbourne Water in an attempt to show that the trees roots are suckering water from the nearby creek and are an environmental hazard.
The HEWI wants to replace the exotic species with indigenous trees which it claims are more environmentally friendly.
Spokeswoman for Save the Poplars Sue Tonge said the group supported the planting of indigenous trees.
“What we don’t support is cutting other trees down unnecessarily, native or exotic,” she said.
Ms Tonge described the rationale behind cutting the trees down as ‘extreme green ideology’ which was discriminatory and inconsistent with the shire’s planning scheme.
A specific clause recognises the ‘landscape importance of mature planting of exotic trees in rural farming areas and in the urban built environment and the contribution that the vegetation makes in defining the character of the area.’
“We don’t think these trees are weeds,” Ms Tonge said: “They are healthy, well-established and well functioning poplars with historical significance and intrinsic beauty.”
Shire spokesman James Martin said the council would be looking at all points of view.
“The fact that there are 32 objections when only six are needed to bring the issue to council is a clear indicator of community interest,” Mr Martin said.
“We’ll be taking all the necessary steps to make an informed decision.”
Objections to the planning application can still be made by obtaining an objection form from shire offices.
For more information contact Ms Tonge on 5962 1470 or Rae on 5962 1889.
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