State ‘nod over trees’

Kim Waters
STATE Government has given its blessing for Powercor to cut down hundreds of protected roadside trees despite the objections of residents on the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast.
A Department of Sustainability and Environment spokesperson said Powercor contractor Vemco was “exempt” from the usual requirement of a council permit to remove and poison the trees.
“The works, which were part of a three-year cycle to manage vegetation within power line easements, were exempt from the need for a planning permit and compiled with all relevant regulations,” the spokesperson said.
“DSE will continue to work with Vemco and local government to ensure an appropriate balance between fire safety and vegetation retention and to minimise the impact on important biodiversity values.”
The Independent reported last week that environmental groups were protesting the removal of the trees in a “knee jerk” reaction to the Black Saturday bushfire disaster.
The DSE spokesperson said the department had recently met Powercor, Vemco, Surf Coast Shire and City of Greater Geelong to “clarify” local planning schemes and electric line clearance regulations.
But a City spokesperson said contractors working for power companies were still “required to notify” council before clearing vegetation.
The City spokesperson said council inquiries into the roadside clearing were “continuing”.
Surfers’ Environmental Protection Group’s Graeme Stockton said new state legislation in response to Royal Commission bushfire recommendations had led to removal of roadside trees that were previously “lightly pruned”.
“Now that councils aren’t the authority on tree clearing it’s unclear who these companies should be seeking permission from. Obviously they’ve taken that to their advantage.”
A Powercor spokesperson said tree removal rather than pruning was “the most practical solution” for the peninsula and Surf Coast trees.