Rally ‘over trees’

KIM WATERS
RESIDENTS plan a “peaceful” rally on Sunday to save three Moonah trees from the chop in a Point Lonsdale playground, according to a spokesperson.
Point Lonsdale’s Deb Brearley said the residents would protest Borough of Queenscliff’s “knee-jerk” plan to chop down the trees.
Ms Brearley said council had announced the plan after residents requested a new park bench or fence to stop children running from the town centre playground onto the street.
A “ridiculous” officer’s report to a council meeting in April recommended removing the Moonahs near a proposed barrier seat for safety reasons.
Mrs Brearley said council had ignored pleas for a streetscape management plan to determine whether the barrier works could move to save the trees.
Residents had fought with council for “many years” to draw up a management plan for the area, she said.
“We need a management plan so this kind of thing can’t just happen. We’ve got no problems with the trees being attended to if they’re dangerous but the Moonahs are basically being used as a scapegoat for inaction in another area.
“We’re hoping that by inviting people to gather here and have a quiet rally to ask council for a management plan of the area we can get rid of this ad hoc attitude that’s really quite distressing.”
Ms Brearley said residents were “weary” of campaigning to have their voices heard at council.
“We shouldn’t have to be doing this. There has been no community engagement, no planning, nothing.”
Councillor David Mitchell has created a community forum website on which 73 residents have voted for a public consultation process to work out how to save the trees while protecting children.
Forum user Tina Price, of Queenscliff, used the forum to ask council to “be smart and think about another solution”.
Queenscliff’s Cathie Bond wrote that the decision was “madness”.
“Who is making these decisions. Just move the drinking fountain.”
Borough of Queenscliff had not returned the Independent’s call for comment before the paper went to press.