Recently, Protectors of Public Lands Victoria (PPL VIC) were scandalised to learn that Corangamite Shire Council in Victoria’s Western District has a project in train to axe an entire two-kilometre-long avenue of heritage-listed elms. Already Council has sanctioned the removal of 100 of the 500 magnificent hundred-year-old English Elms, apparently with the official blessing of Heritage Victoria and the city-based group “Friends of the Elms”.
Friends of Camperdown Elms (FOCE), a local community group and a PPL VIC member, has rallied valiantly to save Camperdown’s elm avenue, which is valued as a great ornament to the town and is considered to be of immense social, historical and environmental value to Victoria. The FOCE commissioned Mr Rob Galbraith, a leading arborist, to report on the heritage value and condition of Camperdown’s elm avenue.
In his report released last week
Mr Galbraith comments: “Overwhelmingly
the trees are in very good health…in comparison to the majority of elms one
sees in Melbourne, most elms throughout the avenue have densely foliated
canopies of deep green, comparatively free of pests and disease.” He goes
on to write: “The great attributes of most of this avenue should not be
jeopardized…(these) include its great length, double row nature, large
individual tree size, generally good condition and relative uniformity (marred
unfortunately by the creation of large gaps where trees have recently been
removed). Above all, there is the abundance of large old majestic elms of good
condition in an avenue setting. The presence of this last characteristic in
itself almost certainly elevates this avenue to world significance, given the
devastation wrought on the European and American Elms by Dutch Elm Disease.”
Julianne Bell, PPL VIC Secretary,
says: “Melbourne has been famous for its beautiful avenues of elms but these
are now at risk with the prolonged drought. Already elm trees along the Yarra
River have died. It is, therefore,
imperative that we maintain and protect avenues of elms in country towns in
Victoria, such as in Camperdown. Just
eighteen months ago we witnessed the “Blue Elms Affair”. Disaster was narrowly averted and a fine elm
avenue saved when a Government funded artist was stopped at the last minute
from painting 47 elms in Melbourne’s Yarra Park electric blue. The threat to
Camperdown’s elms is much greater. We may well attract international
condemnation for our cavalier attitude to elms in our care.”
Photos of the Camperdown Elm Avenue and the arborist’s report can be provided on request.
PPL VIC and the FOCE plus supporters plan to call on Corangamite Shire Council at its next meeting on 24 April 2007 in Camperdown to abandon plans to destroy the town’s elm avenue and to adopt Mr Galbraith’s recommendations outlined in his report. We also plan to make representations to the State Government to fulfil its duty of care to protect avenues of trees included on the official Victorian State Heritage Register.
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