Reported by Hannah Vandenbogaerde
Newport residents say a proposed aged-care development will remove several established trees and an essential bird habitat in their neighbourhood.
In April, aged care provider Regis put forward two permits for an aged care development at 286-296 Melbourne Road. The development would see the removal of many trees on Melbourne Road, Paine Street and Franklin Street.
In a statement Regis said “Australia is facing a critical shortage of residential aged care beds, with thousands of additional places needed to meet the needs of our ageing population. Our proposed development at Newport will help address this growing demand, giving more older people the opportunity to access quality care closer to their families, friends and local community.”
The proposal has been knocked back by Hobsons Bay City Council after receiving 18 objections concerning scale, size and design, with locals specifically concerned about tree removal.
Instead of adjusting its plans Regis is taking the proposal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Williamstown Tree Group, a community based organisation fighting to preserve and expand canopy cover in Williamstown for the past seven years, is fighting to save the trees earmarked for removal as part of the proposed development.
In a statement to Council, convenor Russell Carrington says “They represent decades of community care, appreciation and pride. Their removal would be a tragedy and is not to be accepted. They belong to us.”
According to the Arboricultural Impact Assessment, one of the trees – a Eucalyptus spathulata or swamp mallet – is described as a healthy, large tree with a long life expectancy and of high significance.
The report says other trees – Melaleuca linariifolia or ‘snow in summer’ – are all in good or fair health with a fair structure and a medium to long life expectancy.
The report strongly recommends the trees be retained.
“They are part of a treeline boulevard that connects Newport and Williamstown in what would otherwise be a hostile bitumen and concrete heat bank that supplies the community with walkability, shade, ambience and dust suppression, and is a valuable asset”, Russell says.
He points out that Newport already suffers from poor tree cover. In 2018, data by the State Government of Victoria reveals that the western suburbs hold the lowest tree canopy cover in metropolitan Victoria with only 5.5%.
Hobsons Bay City Council’s Urban Forest Strategy reports 7.5% canopy cover across the municipality and aims to increase canopy to 30% by 2040.
For now, the future of the trees remains uncertain. A council spokesperson says it will “consider any amended plans, expert evidence and submissions presented throughout the course of the VCAT proceedings”
Regis Aged Care has stated they “understand the importance of established trees and green spaces to the local community and are carefully considering all options as part of the planning process”.
“The safety and wellbeing of residents remain at the heart of our decisions, and we are committed to working towards an outcome that balances the needs of older people with those of the surrounding community.”
However, Newport resident Segenet Anley is worried Council may change its stance.
She says that alternative designs allowing for the retention of one of the trees, were refused by the developer.
“The design that they [Regis] put forth are definitely driven by their target of 120 beds. A development of this size is far too large for this location given the surrounding residential homes and character of Newport”, she says.
“We are in the next stage, we are in that mediation process. However, I continue to have some concerns about the future of the tree and so do other objectors.”
Segenet’s hope is that Council will keep working towards its own set canopy targets.
“They have certain restrictions about large trees that can be cut down. They [Regis] do need Council approval. So Council has some authority there to retain as many large significant trees in the area as possible.”
A statement from the Williamstown Tree Group says “VCAT deliberations regularly favour and support developers” but Russell and Segenet hope developers and residents are treated equally.
