A Kingsville resident of 23 years fears her 150-year-old peppercorn tree will die if a unit development goes ahead behind her house.
Sue McDonald, who lives on Kingsville Street, said a 10-dwelling development, comprising eight two-storey townhouses and two single-storey dwellings, had been proposed for an adjoining property.
Original plans showed the proposed buildings would be flush with her rear boundary.
The plans were amended after Ms McDonald commissioned an arborist report that found that her tree would be threatened by such a development.
But Ms McDonald said the amendment did not go far enough and added that the building should be further set back.
The arborist’s report concluded that if the tree’s canopy was cut it could threaten the life of the tree and that the peppercorn was of local significance and should be included on Maribyrnong council’s tree register.
“But guess what,” Ms McDonald said. “There’s no local tree register.
“In March, there was a motion put forward … that Maribyrnong establish a tree register, but nothing’s happened about it since.
“This tree has a 25-metre canopy and is two metres across at the trunk.
“A pair of bats live in the tree; so do ringtail possums … you know, it’s a local habitat as well as being incredibly beautiful.”
Mayor Grant Miles said the council would discuss a tree register next week.
He said the tree would be a major consideration in the council’s assessment of the application.
“Obviously, trees of this age and significance are extremely important to us,” Cr Miles said.
“The tree register will give some higher level of protection to trees like this.
“At the moment, it’s a civil matter basically between her and the neighbour, being on private property.”
