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St Kilda Rd’s landmark trees to make way for Metro Tunnel

DOZENS of landmark trees on St Kilda Rd are being chopped down in coming weeks to make way for the $11 billion Melbourne Metro Tunnel, despite ongoing protests to save the roadside flora.

Workers are cutting down more trees to make way for the Metro Tunnel works around Domain Interchange. Picture: Alex Coppel.
Workers are cutting down more trees to make way for the Metro Tunnel works around Domain Interchange. Picture: Alex Coppel.

LANDMARK trees on St Kilda Rd are being chopped down to make way for the $11 billion Melbourne Metro Tunnel.

Up to 26 plants will get the chop between Dorcas St and Kings Way in the coming weeks, despite ongoing protests to save the roadside flora.

Workers were on scene today armed with chainsaws in cherry pickers to remove the plane and elm trees.

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There was a community protest against the felling of the trees. Picture: Alex Coppel.
There was a community protest against the felling of the trees. Picture: Alex Coppel.
Two trees will be planted for every one removed on the street. Picture: Alex Coppel.
Two trees will be planted for every one removed on the street. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Originally, up to 170 were to be removed; however, the total number for the project has now been reduced to 95.

The Melbourne Metro Authority has previously committed to planting two trees for every one removed on the boulevard.

The new trees will be grown in an off-site nursery and will be around five years old and up to 5m high when replanted.

They could take up to 50 years to grow full height.

Government spokeswoman Hayley McNaughton said: “St Kilda Rd is a special part of Melbourne — that’s why in 2016 we put it on the Victorian Heritage Register.

Melbourne Metro construction timelapse
Metro Rail Tunnel works have begun in Melbourne CBD.
Metro Rail Tunnel works have begun in Melbourne CBD.

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“The Melbourne Metro Rail Authority has worked closely with Heritage Victoria and other stakeholders to get the necessary approvals to get on with the job of building Anzac Station and to give motorists regular updates of upcoming closures.”

Last year, dozens of prominent Victorians made a push to list the tree-lined boulevard on the World Heritage register in a bid to stop the trees from being removed.

Former premier Ted Baillieu and former governors John Landy, Alex Chernov and David de Krester signed a letter to the Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg calling for the emergency listing of 200 trees.

The 11th hour bid was unsuccessful, but ignited discussion of potential ways to restore the area to its former glory after construction had ended.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/st-kilda-rds-landmark-trees-to-make-way-for-metro-tunnel/news-story/f46a66d9c028877fd3eb50f8b17d95ba