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AN ENVIRONMENTALIST hopes the City of Greater Bendigo's back down on plans to chop up hundreds of Lockwood trees will lead to better community consultation in the future.
The decision was an "early Christmas gift", Australian Conservation Foundation member Vyonne McLelland-Howe said.
She said it was especially encouraging to see the council pursue a speed reduction down Crusoe Road.
"It's what we would have wanted all along and clearly, from this breakthrough, the council has taken a closer look and realised it was not a good idea either," Ms McLelland-Howe said.
Environmental groups had not ruled out legal action or on-site protests had the council had not made changes to better protect endangered and threatened animals.
"I was really glad that I didn't have to tie myself to a tree at Christmas time, Ms McLelland-Howe said.
Swift parrots are among the most endangered animals to have been seen in the area.
Ms McLelland-Howe said environmental groups would keep an eye out for other proposed developments but hoped the council would now become more proactive about seeking out environmental groups' views.
"At the end of the day, it's more about that consultation and understanding each other," she said.
"We do understand there are safety issues on the road too."
The council had wanted to begin cutting down 200 trees a few weeks ago when environmentalists and a number of nearby residents found out the major works were about to take place.
They sat down with council staff several weeks ago to discuss potential changes to the project to widen road shoulders and fix table drains using a $274,000 federal government grant.
The council had consulted with residents of Crusoe Road as well as a state government department as it planned the works. It had also displayed the plans on its website.
The Upper Spring Creek Landcare Group's Judy Crocker walked a section of the road in the week before the scheduled start of works, after discovering they were about to take place.
"My biggest concern here is the environment. This is an area that already lost nearly 2000 trees when the Ravenswood Interchange and Jock Comini rest-stop was installed [several years ago]," she said at the time.
Many of the older trees in the area are on roadsides. Old trees are of high value in forests around Bendigo because they are old enough to have formed the hollows many native animals rely on for nesting and protection from predators.
Earlier
THE City of Greater Bendigo has backed down on controversial plans to remove hundreds of trees along Crusoe Road after a dramatic 11th hour intervention by environmental groups.
It will try to introduce 80km/h speed limits along the road instead of widening sections of the Lockwood road.
It comes after a last-minute review of plans after nearby residents and environmental groups discovered the road widening project was about to take place, which could have resulted in 11 large trees and hundreds of smaller ones being removed.
More news:
As late as a fortnight ago, the council was planning only to delay roadworks by less than a week to look at concerns an environmental coalition had raised about tree removals.
Director presentation and assets Brian Westley said a speed reduction would help address concerns about road safety in the area.
"In reviewing the project, there is an opportunity to take a different approach that will help keep people safe and protect the amenity of the area long term," Mr Westley said.
"Where there is a history of crashes in a particular location, we seek to match the road improvement treatment to the type of crash.
"There have been seven crashes on this road between 2013 and 2018, including four instances where drivers have run off the road.
"In evaluating the project and following discussions with community members, a reduction in speed is considered the most appropriate crash-prevention method at this point.
"Being new to the organisation, I will be reviewing upcoming road projects to ensure the planned treatment is appropriate and we will learn from this example.
"However, where future road projects require the removal of trees to address the cause of crashes and improve safety, we will need to do this.
"The city always aims to balance road safety with environmental amenity and will continue to work to minimise environmental impacts and re-use as much wood as possible from road projects in local parks, gardens and reserves."
The council will write to the Department of Transport to adjust the speed limit for the 3 kilometre stretch of Crusoe Road, from the Calder Alternative Highway to Merindah Road.
More to come.