Victor Harbor Road overtaking lane puts hundreds of trees at risk

Huge gum trees that predate European settlement face the chop along with hundreds of others in a road upgrade that critics say could still be done with less harm.

Almost 400 trees – including giant gums – face the chop to allow for major roadworks on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

The Infrastructure and Transport Department wants to clear 388 trees for the 1.65km overtaking lane on the Victor Harbor Rd, according to an application lodged with the Native Vegetation Council.

Many of the trees – some taller than 20m and including blue gums and red gums – have been listed as having “good habitat value”, the application says.

Conservation Council SA chief executive Craig Wilkins said the department was not trying hard enough to keep the trees.

“Those ancient gums on the Victor Harbor Rd are a beautiful part of our landscape,” he said.

“The state government should lead by example with best-practice design and consultation. Instead, there seems to be a culture in the Transport Department where trees are seen to be expendable despite their enormous value.”

The Department of Infrastructure and Transport plans to clear 388 trees for the 1.65 km Victor Harbour Road Overtaking Lane Project. Picture: Yuri Poetzl

Many of the trees to be cleared are more than 20m tall. Picture: Yuri Poetzl.

Christies Beach resident Yuri Poetzl, who has campaigned to minimise tree removal for major projects, said many trees in the path of the upgrade likely predated settlement. He described the plan as “carnage”.

“Surely there must be less-destructive solutions,” he said.

“Could the overtaking lane have a smaller footprint or be constructed in a less-vegetated area? Could the trees be retained in a central median strip and lanes established in already cleared farmland?”

Mr Poetzl said one option to minimise the impact on vegetation and wildlife, while improving safety in the long term, would be to build a dual carriageway.

“The population of the Fleurieu Peninsula is expanding and we need more than piecemeal overtaking lanes,” he said.

“A dual carriageway could allow the existing native vegetation to be retained in a median strip, with crash barriers for added safety.”

The Department of Infrastructure and Transport plans to clear 388 trees for the 1.65 km Victor Harbour Road Overtaking Lane Project. Picture: Jesse Ehlers/South Coast Aerial Images

An aerial image showing the suggest path of a dual carriageway option. Picture: Jesse Ehlers/South Coast Aerial Images

The clearance application – prepared by EBS Ecology – states the department would pay $622,585 in compensation for the native vegetation clearance.

“It is unlikely that clearance associated with the proposed overtaking lane can be avoided or that the project can be located elsewhere,” the application says.

“Moving the overtaking lane to another section of the road is not practically feasible and is unlikely to substantially reduce the vegetation clearance impact associated with the proposed works.”

The department was asked to comment but did not respond by deadline.

Originally published as Victor Harbor Road overtaking lane puts hundreds of trees at risk