Hedges around many Mornington Peninsula properties could be outlawed under bold plan
A push to ban “rich city folk” from planting hedges across most of the Mornington Peninsula is gathering steam, with the drastic action winning the support of councillors. Here’s why residents are saying “it has got to stop”.
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Giant hedges around exclusive Mornington Peninsula properties would be banned under a desperate plan to protect the “best views in the world”.
The initiative would involve changing a local law at a cost of at least $100,000.
Existing rules prevent solid hedges higher than 1.5m from being planted without a permit along 12 main roads across the shire.
Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors want to extend the restrictions to apply to all roads within the Green Wedge, which covers almost three quarters of the region.
Cr David Gill said the drastic action was needed to save unique views, including those from the region’s hinterland across Port Phillip Bay to Phillip Island.
Red Hill Community Association president David Maddocks said the plan was long overdue.
“I’ve watched the views disappear over the past 20 years,” he said.
“It has got to stop.”
Traditionally the hedges were used as windbreaks and to provide shelter for livestock.
Mr Maddocks, who is also the founder of the Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network, said they were now planted by “rich city folk” for “privacy and seclusion”.
“In many cases they are planting Monterey cypress which grow very tall, very quickly.
“Even the ones that are trimmed regularly – at a cost of thousands of dollars each time – block views.”
Landscape designer and horticulturalist Rob Mihailescu said many landowners planted hedges and then failed to maintain them.
“If you don’t look after them and have them professionally trimmed they take off and you end up with beasts that are 15m high and 5m wide,” he said.
Mr Mihailescu trims up to 10km of hedges every year with his business The Cutting Hedge.
In some cases he is called in by neighbours wanting to rescue their view.
“It’s not unusual for someone to foot the bill to cut back a hedge on a property nearby.”
Cr Bev Colomb said the sea and landscapes being lost were an important element of the region’s tourism appeal.
“They are the best views in the world and we need to protect them,” she said.
The council also wanted to investigate how to stop fences blocking views.
Introducing controls to override the current exemption for fences would require support from the State Government to amend the Planning Scheme.
A council officer’s report suggested it would cost about $120,000 to attempt the change with no guarantee of success.
The scathing report also flagged concerns about legal fallout if landowners were forced to cut down trees and replace fences.
“This will be a contentious issue that is likely to generate a vigorous response and legal challenge from the landowners … further budget allocation will need to be made for the increased legal costs that will be generated,” the report states.
Despite the misgivings from officers the councillors voted to forge ahead with the plan to amend the local law and also called for a report into solutions to rural fences blocking views.
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