A desperate act of protest couldn’t stop the destruction of a tiny Newport forest habitat

By Amelia Nada

I am sad – still so very sad. These were not just a couple of trees. This was a multilevel tree canopy with super dense thicket. 

This was a thriving frog habitat. The rail corridor worked as a de facto habitat link. This was home to many species of native birds, reptiles, micro bats, possums, the list just keeps going on. 

This was also our sound barrier, our privacy screening, our shade in the summer. This kept us safe. 

All this destruction of this canopy wasn’t done to build a hospital, road, or even to upgrade the rail infrastructure. This was done for a footpath (shared user pathway). A path not even 20 metres from the road. 

Not one of the residents in any of the three cul-de-sacs had any idea this was coming. Some of us were notified eight days before felling, so our cars didn’t obstruct works. That was the only reason we were notified.

We tried everything including emailing ministers, emailing and calling LXRP. Doing the right thing got no attention. So I staged a peaceful protest under the largest of the trees. I was forcibly removed by Vic Police.

Showing dissidence to the Big Build and suddenly there were four cars with eight police officers. Four moved me. I’m 50 with no criminal record or history of protesting.

But we still couldn’t stop it. 

All we asked for was a pause. Just a pause so we could at least find out what’s going on. This devastation was never part of the original plan. The felling was brutal, they worked into the night. They made sure it was done.

I left for the afternoon to avoid witnessing what they were doing, but unfortunately I did see it. I just stood there with my neighbour (who is an environmental scientist) numb and heartbroken at the same time. 

I still can’t reconcile such carnage. I also can’t comprehend how, in our time of need, our elected representative didn’t come to our aid. This greenery doesn’t belong to just me and my neighbours, this belongs to all of us. 

Victoria’s Big Build has the authority to bypass environmental impact assessments for large infrastructure but I don’t understand how that applies to a footpath. 

We’ve been told that there’s so much want in the community for a path along the line from Maddox Road. Still trying to find them. We were also told that what residents want isn’t important. We are both.

Just in case we hadn’t lost enough, our safe little cul-de-sac is going to be a thoroughfare – a bike path along a railway line with no station is already inviting nuisance behaviour. Just add the monkey bikes that are already menacing our area. 

I at least have it better than the home on the fence line. I’m now exposed in my front and back yards to train passengers and soon, the public. My neighbours are exposed inside their homes too. 

What have we done to deserve the worst possible outcome?

I have asked “Would this be OK for your family or community?” No answer. 

When the project managers, or your minister, don’t live anywhere near here why would they care! My safe little part of the world is becoming a concrete wasteland. I don’t get to leave.