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Updates
January 2012
SAVED!!
We are delighted to report that the Avenue of Honour in Bacchus Marsh will be retained in its entirety, following a welcome decision by Planning Minister Matthew Guy to refuse a permit for the removal of five mature elm trees and for the construction of a large roundabout. The issue has been running for more than two years, and we have worked hard with the local community, in particluar the Avenue Preservation Inc., to campaign against the roundabout and tree removal.
Minister Guy's press release sates: "I have considered an independent report by the Heritage Council Permits Committee and believe it is critical to ensure the continuous and uninterrupted nature of this significant cultural heritage landmark," Mr Guy said.
"There are other alternatives to the proposed roadwork by VicRoads which will now be examined to provide similar improvements for road transport," Mr Guy said.
July 2011
Your last chance to be heard: Save the Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour
Part of the proposed Western Highway Realignment Project - an extension to Woolpack Road with insertion of a 50 metre diameter roundabout and removal of up to a dozen mature Dutch elms trees - will threaten the Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour. The scheme details can be viewed at:
The fate of the Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour is in the hands of the Planning Minister Matthew Guy.
In April, Minister Guy formally called-in the permit application and announced he would make a decision once the Heritage Council had made its report. Now that the three day Heritage Council hearing is complete and all the parties involved, including the National Trust have had the opportunity to make submissions, the panel will prepare a report on its recommendations to Minister Guy, who will then determine the fate of the Avenue.
We urge the government, VicRoads and Moorabool Shire Council to find an alternative solution to traffic and roads that will not impact on the Avenue and we are requesting that the Legislative Assembly of Victoria pass a motion condemning the proposed road works.
We need your help. Please print the attached petition, ask twenty people to sign it, and then post it as soon as you can to the address on the bottom of the petition – the Avenue Preservation Group Inc, PO Box 223, Bacchus Marsh 3340.
June 2011
The hearing before the Heritage Council resumes on Firday 24 June in Bacchus Marsh. The Heritage Council will hten report ot the Minister for Planning who will make the final decision on the project. Read ABC media reports.
11 April 2011
Minister for Planning Matthew Guy has announced that he will make the final decision on the VicRoads and Moorabool Shire application. The Heritage Council will still conduct a hearing into the matter on 3 June but the Heritage Council must now prepare a report for the Minister rather than determine the matter themselves. The National Trust has sought to be a party to the hearing. Read Minister's press release 8 April 2011.
21 March 2011
Article in The Age. VicRoads have amended their plans slightly, and reduced the number of Elm trees to be removed from eight to five. The tree dedicated to Victoria Cross recipient Rupert Moon will now be retained. The roundabout will be slightly smaller. Nonetheless, the Heritage Victoria refusal still stands unless overturned by the Heritage Council at the hearing on 3 June.
24 February 2011
The Heritge Council has confirmed that they are to hear an appeal by VicRoads and the Shire of Moorabool into Heritage Victoria's refusal of the permit applciation to remove eight mature elms and construct a roundabout.
We have engaged legal counsel and are preparing our case. If you wrote a letter of objection to Heritage Victoria and now wish to be heard by the Heritage Council we strongly suggest that you contact the Heritage Council Hearings Coordinator on tel. 8644 8921 and request to be made a party to the hearing.
The latest local media on an appeal to the Heritage Council
17 February 2011
We have briefed the Minister for Planning Mr Matthew Guy on the Trust's position. We stated that no healthy trees should be removed and that another option must be found.
14 January 2011
VicRoads and Moorabool Shire are likely to ask the Minister for Planning, Matthew Guy, to call this matter in. We wrote to the Premier urging that an alternative route for the proposed new linking road to the realigned Western Highway must be found in order that the Avenue be preserved, and we have personally briefed Hon. Edward O’Donohue MLC, Parliamentary Secretary for Transport, on our position.
We need your help. Please email your opposition to the works to Hon. Matthew Guy MLC, Minister for Planning, and Hon. Edward O’Donohue MLC, Parliamentary Secretary for Transport.
21 December 2010. Heritage Victoria has refused the permit application lodged by VicRoads under the Heritage Act for removal of the trees and construciton of the roundabout. Read the Heritage Victoria decision here. We are thrilled that after our campaigning together with local community Avenue Preservation Group Inc. for more than a year that Heritage Victoria has made this decision. An appeal is available to VicRoads, in the meantime we have written to the new Liberal-National coaliiton government to encourage them to work with VicRoads to explore and agree on one of the several alternative routes for the eastern link from Bacchus Marsh to the Western Highway. Read report in The Age newspaper.
31 August 2010. Heritage Victoria hosted an interested parties meeting attended by the Trust, community members, the Avenue Preservation Group Inc, VicRoads, and Moorabool Shire Council.
12 August 2010. The Heritage Council has added the Avenue to the Victorian Heritage Register. Details here. A permit for any works is now required from the Executive Director Heritage Victoria.
30 June 2010. The Heritage Council conduct its hearing into the matter of the addition of the Avenue on the Victorian Heritage Register. Read report in the Melton Leader.
25 June 2010 - Greens MLA Colleen Hartland brings Adjournment motion to Legislative Council. http://mps.vic.greens.org.au/node/1996
29 May 2010 - the Trust attended the rally organised by the Avenue Preservation Group and Conservation Manager Paul Roser was amongst the speakers condeming the proposed works.
21 May 2010 - The Heritage Council of Victoria will be holding a hearing on 30 June 2010 to determine the significance of the Avenue and its entry onto the Victorian Heritage Register. See Heritage Victoria website.
Confusingly, the consortium constructing the road has also applied for a permit from Heritage Victoria, depsite the registration matter not yet being determined. A permit cannot be issued until the Avenue is included on the Victorian Heritage Register (if indeed it is). The permit has been given public notice. and submissions should also be made to Heritage Victoria. Again, see Heritage Victoria website for details.
March 2010 - Peter Carey condemns proposed works
17 February 2010 - the Executive Director Heritage Victoria recommended the Avenue for addition to the Victorian Heritage Register. If the recommendation is confirmed a permit will be required under the Heritage Act 1995 for the proposed works.
The Shire of Moorabool's Management Plan for the Avenue (2004)
aerial view of proposed roundabout and tree removal
plan of proposed works including removal of tree S164, planted in honour of Rupert Moon, recipient of the Victoria Cross
One of the Elms proposed to be removed was planted in honour of Rupert Moon. Moon, when aged 24, was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. The citation can be read at the Australian War Memorial's website.
The road works extending Woolpack Road 800-metres north lead to a new diamond interchange with the Western Highway. Once this new interchange is constructed at the end of Woolpack Road, the only entrance to the eastern end of the Avenue of Honour will be from a portion of the existing freeway that will remain as an alternative route between Melton and Bacchus Marsh.
However, as there are concerns that this part of the road will form a ‘speed alley’, the road may be torn up and removed. This will effectively cut direct access to the eastern end of the Avenue. The experience of driving the length of the Avenue, from east to west, will be lost.
The Trust believes that all alternative routes should be exhausted before any trees are removed. Finding an alternative route is a priority, even if it is at an extra cost. This project must not be solely cost driven. and the loss of the Avenue’s integrity is irreplaceable. It is hard to imagine that desecration of a war memorial to accommodate trucks would be considered anywhere else in the world, especially when there are alternative routes close by.
Read full article...
Ensuring the continued survival of stately elm trees in the Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour cannot be overstated. In 2008, an article in Country Life titled ‘Time to celebrate our great trees’ reported that it is rare for elms to survive Dutch Elm disease. In the 1980s it killed 90% of England's elms and 50% of Europe's elms. In fact, only five Dutch Elms are recorded by Britain’s Woodland Trust, and four of these have a girth of less than 3.14 meters. As they approach their centenary, the elms that make up the Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour have reached an average girth of 3.35 meters. See Woodland Trust website http://www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk/WoodlandTrust
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