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Wednesday 26 March 2025
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Trees gone The aftermath after trees were removed from Groves Reserve in Aspendale. Picture: Gary Sissons
Tree removal ‘abysmal’ - MP Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au THE removal of trees at Groves Reserve in Aspendale has been slammed in Parliament. Multiple coastal banksias have been removed in the last few weeks to make way for level crossing removal works. The removal of the trees was criticised by local environmentalists. In Parliament last week, Liberal MP Ann-Marie Hermans added
her voice to the debate. She said “Groves Reserve was a gift to the community by a former councillor and was set aside for community use. It is a remnant area of banksia woodland, or it was, and it is situated between the Nepean Highway and the railway line in the suburb of Aspendale. It offered walking and cycling trails that connected the Aspendale foreshore with the Mordialloc Creek Reserve. “The Level Crossing Removal Project had planned to remove – and now, I discovered after visiting last
week, has removed – a vast number of significant trees and other vegetation as part of its nearby level crossing removal program. That is in spite of the fact that one of the Indigenous elders pleaded with the government because some of these trees were 180 years old and of great significance to the community. “Some of the few trees, or parts of trees, that they have left behind are not trees of significance – they are not that old. In fact they have made such a mess of this reserve that was gifted to the public. It is really em-
barrassing to look through the wires of this fence and to see how this government has treated the vegetation. It has no understanding of how to look after its own reserves, and really the area is an absolute mess. It is abysmal.” Prior to the trees being torn down, Mordialloc MP Tim Richardson said “unfortunately we will see some tree removals during this time, but we will minimise the impact as much as possible. It’s important to note that post the level crossing works, we will be planting 1000 trees and
shrubs through there to replenish Groves Reserve.” “Some coastal banksias will remain but the others are in the rail alignment. To safely establish the work site and provide access to services those trees need to come out,” he said. (“Banksia bulldozing ‘unacceptable’ The News 5/3/2025). The LXRP says it will plant more than 1,000 trees and 85,000 plants, shrubs and grasses in the area once the project concludes. The state government plans to make the Frankston line level crossing-free by 2029.