Community fight to save banksia trees from rail project axes at a crossroads, as land clearing begins

A community fight to protect coastal banksias from bulldozers during a level crossing removal in Melbourne’s southeast is at a crossroads after workers began clearing land.

Local residents are fighting to save sensitive vegetation where trees were removed at Groves Reserve in Aspendale. Picture: Rosemary West

A community fight to protect giant coastal banksias from bulldozers during a level crossing removal is at a crossroads after workers began clearing land.

Significant banksia trees in Aspendale, about 30km southeast of Melbourne’s CBD, are set to be removed as part of a plan to elevate the Frankston rail line and remove a level crossing between Station St and Nepean Hwy.

The Kingston Residents Association launched a bid last year to save a sliver of land called Groves Reserve that will have the new section of sky rail built, arguing it contained the last of Coast Banksia Woodland vegetation in the area.

To do so, the rail line would have to be shut to elevate tracks on their existing alignment, which would potentially also force the relocation of demountable offices used by disability services provider, Scope.

This week the state’s Level Crossing Removal Project began clearing parts of the reserve, saying it will replant vegetation following the project that would make the Frankston line level crossing free by 2029.

Trees removed from Groves Reserve for a level crossing removal project, where local residents are fighting to save sensitive vegetation. Picture: Rosemary West

Vice-president of the Kingston Residents Association, Rosemary West, said arborists had measured the circumference of some banksias at 3 metres, and they were likely to date back to pre-white settlement.

“Our community is about to lose what is left of the Coast Banksia Woodland vegetation that

once lined the railway line through most of Kingston,” she said.

“This land has more than just banksias, it is an endangered ecological class that includes other species.”

Banksia trees on Groves Reserve that residents want to save are more than 3m in circumference. Picture: Rosemary West

A level crossing removal project spokesperson said the team planned to minimise the number of trees removed as part of early works, which will allow for the removal of three crossings in Mordialloc and Aspendale.

“We’re working with independent arborists and environmental experts to minimise the number of trees being removed as part of the project,” they said.

“Once the project is complete, we’ll plant more than 1,000 trees and 85,000 plants, shrubs and grasses in the area.”

The project argues that building a rail bridge allows for the retention of more trees and vegetation than if a trench was built, but Ms West said elevating the tracks on an existing alignment rather than shifting them to the east would save the sensitive woodland in question.

The LXRP said alternative alignments were considered but the final design minimised impacts on Scope and disruptions on the Frankston Line.

Originally published as Community fight to save banksia trees from rail project axes at a crossroads, as land clearing begins