PROTECT the Historic Elm Tree and Public Open Space at Moreland Station

UPDATE:

It seems that our humble petition has made an impact. A couple of the Moreland City Councillors have become involved in this issue - Greens Cnr James Conlan and Socialist Alliance Cnr Sue Bolton. Enquiries were made of the Shirley Robertson Children's Centre. The Centre wrote to parents, asserting that the management had 'no plans' to acquire more land at this stage. This would appear to indicate that the current section of station parkland and the Historic Elm Tree will remain in public open space, surely a good thing.... HOWEVER! We have good reason to believe that the resulting furore and very public backlash embarrassed the Children's Centre's upper management. We feel that they are simply going to lie low for now, pretend it was never a done deal and then try again in the near future. Accordingly, this petition isn't going anywhere. It will remain online until we can be positive that the Historic Elm and public open space remain accessible to the community - as should be the case.

Please continue to sign and share to show that you support our cause.

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With the Moreland community still reeling from the unnecessary clear-felling of 150 mature trees at historic Gandolfo Gardens and along the rail corridor from Moreland to Coburg Station, it appears that the appalling destruction of trees, important wildlife habitat and usable public open space is to planned to continue.

Landscape workers have begun removing saplings recently planted on the East side of Moreland Station, and advised curious residents of the as-yet-unofficial plans to gift additional land to the nearby Shirley Robertson Children's Centre – endangering one of the very few untouched significant trees in the process, an English Elm.

This magnificent, healthy tree is estimated to be 100 years old, planted by the community around the turn of the century, and was mentioned in a Heritage Study by Allom & Lovell, prepared for the Moreland City Council in 1999. This tree is the last surviving English Elm named in the study. Please see the above photo for a depiction of the tree in its dormant winter state (the gums to the left were amongst the many chopped down).

Elm trees worldwide have been devastated by Dutch Elm Disease, a fungal infection spread by a certain type of beetle. A healthy, mature, perfect specimen of an Elm such as this one is of incalculable worth to the species as a whole. Unfortunately, this tree's value and condition may not save it from the Level Crossing Removal Project, who have shown no interest whatsoever in protecting significant trees, heritage and habitat, or addressing widespread community concerns.

Another issue of major concern is the further loss of usable public open space. Rumours have circulated since the start of the project that the Shirley Robertson Children's Centre was to be gifted additional land, in return for their cooperation during construction and the resultant overshadowing caused by the newly elevated rail line. It now appears that the rumours are correct and that an additional parcel of land containing the Elm tree will be allocated to the centre. It is worth noting that Shirley Robertson Children's Centre already occupies land that was once open public space.

Either the English Elm will become fenced off and inaccessible to the public, or it will be chopped to smithereens in the process of constructing a fence. Once 'owned' by the Children's Centre, its safety cannot be guaranteed. Landscape workers also let slip the fact that trees near the Centre were to be removed to stop people climbing them and 'spying' on the children. This is a bizarre assertion. There have never been any previous cases of such inappropriate behaviour.

SIGNING THIS PETITION will send a clear signal to Moreland City Council and the State Government that enough is enough – we want the historic English Elm to be retained and protected, to remain on public land for the community to access, admire and enjoy, and that any intended transfers of open space are to be conducted in a fair and transparent manner, agreed to by the wider community.

PLEASE sign and share this petition with friends and family, post it on social media, and spread the word.

ANTICIPATED QUESTIONS:

Q: How do you know that 150 trees went from the rail line?

A: Aerial surveys and the LXRP's own documentation. The community counted all of the mature trees removed from this area. Only a handful remain. Let's protect them.

Q: New trees will be planted so isn't that a solution?

A: The new plantings will take 50 – 100 years to reach maturity, and it is entirely possible that many will not survive. We need to protect what is here now, particularly when it is part of our heritage and provides important habitat for wildlife.

Q: Why shouldn't the Children's Centre be given additional land?

A: We have no blanket objection to this idea, but such an initiative should be done in a fair, open and transparent manner, along with genuine community consultation. There is bound to be a solution that works for all parties.

Q: Isn't the community is going to gain public space, anyway, with the land under the elevated rail line opening up to the public?

A: This is a misleading idea. The new areas consist of concrete bike and pedestrian paths, decorative rocks, a few small patches of traditional kid's play equipment, a small fenced dog park and 'swales' - organic stormwater drains. The development contains not a single large flat area for kids to run and play, as was the case with Gandolfo Gardens prior to its unwarranted and frankly traumatic destruction. Moreland deserves better.

Q: Isn't the tree old anyway? Surely 100 years is a good innings?

A: Elm trees are just getting started at 100 years. Their expected lifespan is 300 years. Unless some environmental vandal decides to shorten it, of course.