Nine hundred giant native trees are being felled in the state of Victoria in what has been called a huge planning blunder, according to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Many of the trees were classified as "very high conservation significance", but are being cleared after VicRoads severely underestimated the environmental impact of a highway project.
The trees were removed to reduce the travel time between Ararat and Beaufort by two minutes, and to make the rural highway safer.
VicRoads concedes it badly misjudged the amount of trees it would have to remove, saying the road design had estimated less than 221 trees would be felled and now expects to cut down up to 885 large old-growth trees.
Environmental groups argue work on the project should have ceased once VicRoads realised the number of trees to go far exceeded first estimates. Representatives of VicRoads acknowledge the discrepancy between the original estimate and the true figure.
However, they argue that road safety is a priority and that roadside trees can be a hazard in run off road accidents, so the highway will go ahead as planned.
Trees are vital to biodiversity - and ancient trees need to be protected. Will you join me in urging the Victorian Government eliminate exemptions for public authorities from permit requirements for tree removal? Public authorities should have to be up-front with and comply to tree removal plans.
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