Andragendet er stilet til: Darebin City Council

We call on Darebin City Council to take immediate action to protect two large, significant native trees (Eucalyptus cladocalyx) located at 148 Ballantyne Street, Thornbury. These trees have trunk girths of approximately 3.7 metres and 3.9 metres, qualifying them as significant under Darebin’s Private Tree Protection policy. Their ecological, environmental, aesthetic and community values are substantial and irreplaceable. These mature native trees:

• Support local biodiversity and provide essential habitat for wildlife
• offer urban heat mitigation and help manage stormwater runoff in this flood prone area
• Contribute to neighbourhood character, amenity, and heritage value;
• Embody the community’s connection to nature and our urban forest

We are deeply concerned that the trees are at imminent risk with an application for their removal already lodged. We believe this sets a dangerous precedent. In light of this, we respectfully demand Darebin Council:

1. Immediately commission independent ecological, heritage, and arboricultural assessments of the trees at 148 Ballantyne St and share these findings.
2. Ensure that any removal application is paused until a fully independent ecological, heritage and arboricultural assessment has been undertaken.
3. Ensure any application process undergoes a transparent, evidence-based assessment, with public visibility and community consultation.
4. Investigate opportunities for Darebin Council, Melbourne Water or other entities to acquire the land to enable the protection of the trees, and possible creation of pocket park connected to the Bracken Avenue Open Space corridor.
5. Review Darebin’s current tree protection policies and planning requirements to ensure they are robust, effective and enforced consistently across the municipality. We urge Darebin to look at stronger planning controls and tree protection mechanisms like those adopted by Moonee Valley and Boorondara councils, together with the establishment of a Significant Tree Register for this City.
6. Treat removal of significant trees only as a last resort after all other options have been fully exhausted.

This is not just about two trees. This is about preserving our urban forest, protecting biodiversity, and maintaining community trust in the Council’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

We urge the Darebin Council to act decisively and uphold its obligations to protect trees of significance and the values they represent.