The state government has labelled the clearing of 70 trees for the West Gate Tunnel project as “unacceptable”.
The trees, near the corner of Grieve Parade and Blackshaws Road in Altona North, were cut down on Friday without approval, Hobsons Bay council said.
The council said the trees, up to 30 years old, were felled to make way for a temporary construction compound for the Western Distributor Authority (WDA).
The council had been in discussion with a WDA contractor about using part of the council reserve, but no action was to be taken until the council’s arborist had advised which trees could be removed.
Hobsons Bay mayor Angela Altair said the council “would be demanding a full explanation and restitution of the site”.
“We’re just at the start of a four-year project, but already people are feeling sceptical about the assurances we’ve received that our local assets will be protected and maintained,” she said.
A spokesman for Roads Minister Luke Donnellan condemned the clearing.
“This is unacceptable,” the spokesman said. “Any additional costs incurred as a result of this incident will be met by the builder, not the taxpayer.”
The spokesman said that while there was planning permission to remove the trees, the parties had agreed not to commence until a joint inspection with the council.
He said the CPB John Holland joint venture would work with the council to replace trees after tunnel construction was completed.
Friends of Lower Kororoit Creek (FOLKC) president Geoff Mitchelmore blamed the felling of the trees on “miscommunication”.
“During the course of several meetings, FOLKC, council and WDA had discussed the saving of the trees on the construction site in Grieve Parade, but sadly the loss occurred through a miscommunication,” he said.
“Trees will be replanted when the construction site is returned to the community, hopefully as a site commemorating the loss of 2300 Toyota employees when the manufacturing plant was closed last year.”
