Development rejected over red gum fears

By Paul Pickering
CONCERNS over the health of a towering river red gum have quashed plans for a 53-dwelling development in Doveton.
At Wednesday’s planning committee meeting, the Casey City Council endorsed a report recommending that the application be refused.
Developer KLM Spatial sought permission for the removal of the 20-metre tall river red gum with a diameter of 162 centimetres on the southern boundary of the site.
Deputy mayor Rob Wilson said the removal of the monolithic tree was not an option.
“We need to work hard to retain some of our heritage red gums,” he said.
“There’s too few of them left.”
Arborist reports suggested that any construction on the site would compromise the health of the tree, dictating that any attempt to build around it would also be deemed unsatisfactory.
The planning committee report ultimately stated that “the proposal has not appropriately responded to the retention and protection of the existing red gum tree located on site”.
The site’s proximity to an established wetland area was also a concern for councillors.
The two-hectare site on Kingfisher Drive is bordered to the west by a Melbourne Water reserve and wetlands area.
Melbourne Water’s objection to the proposed development stated that it may “impact upon the environmental values, in particular the habitat values and conflicts with the effective management of the wetlands”.
The proposal also made no provision for the on-site treatment of stormwater, raising problems about the quality of water in an area intended to nurture native wildlife.
River Gum Ward councillor Wayne Smith said the objections of residents were also considered in the refusal of the development.
“Contact with residents suggested that they were concerned about the trees in the area,” he said.
“Being a wetland environment, it was the wrong area.”
KLM Spatial was unavailable for comment.