Sneaky tree chopping plan stuns people living along train line

PEOPLE living along a train line in Melbourne’s east have been stunned to discover the Level Crossing Removal Authority wants to chop down trees in their backyards.

Sally-Anne McCormack is furious about plans to cut down a tree in her backyard. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

BLACKBURN locals are up in arms after they discovered plans to axe trees in their backyards to make way for a section of the Box Hill to Ringwood shared-use path.

Level Crossing Removal Authority contractors have applied for permits to cut down trees on private property on the south side of the railway line.

Owners of properties backing on to the line between Blackburn station and the Seventh Day Adventist Church were gobsmacked when they received letters informing them CPB Contractors had made planning permit applications to Whitehorse Council to remove their trees.

Blackburn’s Sally-Anne McCormack said there was “no way” anyone would be cutting down three trees in her yard.

“There was an arborists’ report which said that the roots of two of the trees would be affected by the level crossing removal, but the huge gum tree we have, which is actually in a Significant Landscape Overlay area, was said to be set back enough from the fence that it would be fine.

“Now they’ve decided to build the shared-use path on the southern side, it looks like they want it gone as well.

“They’ll have to get past my husband first and I think he’d probably chain himself to the tree before he lets them rip it out.”

Blackburn Tree Preservation Society president David Berry said he thought “close to 400 out of 550 trees” along the affected section of rail would be cut down, now the southern alignment of the path had been decided on.

Level Crossing Removal Authority project director Tony Hedley said excavation work would severely damage the roots of trees that were close to the construction site.

“Where trees are proposed to be lopped or removed … we are working closely with residents to provide a combination of replacement planting and landscaping,” he said.

Whitehorse Council officials were unavailable for comment, but the letter Ms McCormack received said no decision would be made on the planning permit applications before June 13.

The council has previously supported a northern alignment of the shared use path.

In a double blow, locals living in the affected area have been told they have the option of vacating their homes during 24-hour construction works in July and December.

The Level Crossing Removal Authority said it would pay for alternative accommodation for affected residents between July 1-10.

“We will be undertaking 24-hour works during the second week of the July school holidays (July 2-10), and have offered alternative accommodation to nearby residents during that time,” Mr Hedley said.

VicRoads eastern projects director Frank De Santis said there had been significant interest in the alignment of the path for cyclists and pedestrians in Laburnum and Blackburn.

“Whitehorse City Council and the community requested further investigations into these sections and we investigated both a northern and southern alignment,” Mr De Santis said.

“We consider the southern alignment as the best option with the key factors in determining the alignment being safety, accessibility and connectivity.”

Mr De Santis said the Laburnum section will undergo further consultation to determine the exact route for the southern alignment between Middleborough Road and Blackburn Station.

Construction of the Box Hill to Ringwood shared use path is expected to be completed by end of 2017.