This move undermines council's Greening Greater Bendigo Plan, designed to revegetate roadsides across the shire to compensate for the 20-year tree loss confirmed in a shire-wide audit, to provide more shade to our community and to mitigate the urban heat bank in a time of climate change.

This move is also happening at a time of a scientifically documented national native species extinction crisis.

Read more: Groups seek-urgent-stop-on-lockwood-tree-removals

We need native roadside vegetation to function as biodiversity corridors, to allow native birds, reptiles and mammals - all declining - safety and food sources when moving about the shire.

From Crusoe Reservoir down to Lockwood South, this area is also [potential] territory for endangered species such as the Brush Tailed Phascogale, or Tuan, and the Powerful Owl.

Crusoe Road lies in a valley north of Big Hill, and is a discharge area for dryland salinity arising from Big Hill/Ravenswood Valley.

Since the 1990s the local Landcare group has regularly monitored salinity levels at a groundwater bore along Crusoe Road.

Council commissioned two expert salinity studies in 2004 and 2005 of Big Hill/Ravenswood Valley.

They confirmed that the extensive erosion and high level salinity was caused by native vegetation removal, and recommended that native revegetation be used as a tool to counter it. The Landcare group commissioned another expert local salinity study in 2017, which again confirmed its extensiveness in the area.

To increase road safety, they could mandate lower speed limits along Crusoe Road. If the council aims to increase speed levels on Crusoe Road, then expect many more accidents, since as the current kangaroo warning alerts drivers, they regularly cross along this road. There are many driveway entries along Crusoe Road too.

The plan is for tree removal from fenceline to fenceline - bring on that black bitumen heat bank! Council, stop this plan and consult with your community.

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I spent nearly a week in the Medical Ward at St. John of God Hospital recently.

I would like to publicly thank the entire team on that ward from the O.I.C. down, for their cheerful and considerate care making a stay with them a heart warming experience.

Bendigo and district is fortunate indeed to have this marvelous group of people to care for them.

All the best for Christmas and the coming year to you all.

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