By MELISSA MEEHAN
Concerns raised over extent of track tree clearing…
MORE trees than ever before fell over tracks along the Puffing Billy line in 2013.
This increase led the railway commissioning a report from a professional arborist on the safety of the trees along the line.
The arborist examined all trees along 26 kilometres of tracks between Belgrave and Gembrook.
Last week works started on removing trees along the line in Belgrave.
As resident and member of the Southern Dandenongs Landcare Group Richard Gipps left for work on Friday morning he noticed that contractors were throwing ropes over a tree next to the railway line.
“I assumed they were just going to trim this healthy looking gum and didn’t think any more about it,” Mr Gipps said.
“Returning home on that evening, I saw this huge pile of leaves and branches only to find they had cut the tree down at the base, destroyed two other trees in the process and severely damaged a third.”
Mr Gipps said that the Southern Dandenongs Landcare Group was part of an alliance of environmental groups working near the railway.
“The arborist assessed some 360 trees as being dangerous and having the potential to cause damage or injury to Puffing Billy assets, staff volunteers and passengers,” he said.
“But he said that not all trees needed to be removed, large stumps could be left in most cases, some could be lopped and some could have weighty branches removed so that the habitat could be preserved and erosion prevented.”
Mr Gipps said he was concerned that if a similar level of destruction continued, and four trees instead of one were destroyed, that the Dandenong Ranges would lose 1440 trees.
“I understand the need to maintain the railway, but there was an understanding between the environmental groups and Puffing Billy and I don’t think it’s been adhered to.”
A spokesperson for Puffing Billy denied that healthy trees had been removed or damaged, and said that approximately 200 trees along the rail way needed remedial action.
“Only trees identified as posing a safety risk are to be felled,” the spokesperson said.
“The Emerald Tourist Railway Board has a strong commitment to the local environment and our policy has always been that only trees regarded as presenting a safety risk are to be felled.
“No trees have been or will be removed outside this policy.”
