‘Just lazy’: 50-year-old Monterey pines axed for Box Hill South development

Two Monterey pines that have stood in place for more than 50 years have been axed to make way for a 147 home Box Hill housing development, in a move locals describe as “lazy”.

Two Monterey pines, that have stood in place for more than 50 years, have been axed to make way for a 147 home Box Hill housing development. Picture: Supplied.

Two Monterey pines that have stood in place for more than 50 years have been axed to make way for a 147 home Box Hill housing development, in a move locals describe as “lazy”.

The two trees were axed to make way for a road out a 147-dwelling housing development site on Hay St.

Nearby resident Susan Edmondson said she could not believe the trees were chopped down.

“Trees are so precious and in this area we are losing more and more of our green space,” she said.

“It is such a ridiculous decision to chop them down rather than design the road to accommodate for them.

“It is just lazy engineering.”

The pines before they were removed. Picture: Supplied.

Ms Edmondson said she was shocked to hear the chainsaws after discussions with Whitehorse City Council and previous developers agreed at VCAT not to remove the trees.

“I felt betrayed because I have been advocating for the trees not to be cut down for so long and was not told this would happen,” she said.

“I am supportive of the development but the road could have been designed in a way to keep the trees.”

The trees were removed as part of a different development application that the one that was previously sent to VCAT.

A Whitehorse City Council spokeswoman said no permit was required for the removal of the trees and tree removal notification cards were distributed via letter box drop on Hay St three weeks prior to removal.

Despite living in front of the strip of trees, Ms Edmondson did not receive a tree removal notification card and said council has ignored her emails about the trees.

Construction has begun on the housing development. Picture: Supplied.

“The pine trees were removed from the road reserve at the bottom of Hay St, Box Hill South, to allow for the construction of the road from Halsey St to the end of Hay St to the south,” a Whitehorse City Council spokeswoman said.

“The trees were adjacent to a development site at 15-31 Hay Street, which has approval for the construction of 147 dwellings.

“The existing road was in very poor condition and under the permit, council required the developer to reconstruct the road to the appropriate standards.”

The spokeswoman also said the strip of Monterey pines were assessed by a qualified arborist before the two tree were remained to ensure the other would remain healthy.

“Replanting of new trees will be undertaken as close to the removal site as possible, however this cannot occur until the tree stumps are removed.

“The removal of the stumps will also facilitate the completion of the road and drainage upgrade.”