South Parade devastated by tree and shrub removals

Without warning or explanation, the Level Crossing Removal Authority has cut down and ripped out a huge strip of trees and shrubs along South Parade, Blackburn, with fears of more to come.

Trees near and west of the subway entrance could be the next to go, some stakeholders have been told.

In further disregard for the community, VicRoads announced yesterday it will push ahead with its controversial bike path route south of the railway line from Middleborough Road through to Springvale Road.

This raises questions as to whether the State government will try to allow VicRoads to clear parts of Elmore Walk and remove parking on the north side of Laburnum Street, despite opposition from Whitehorse Council.

VicRoads has ignored pleas to meet with council and community representatives to work through a detailed community proposal for a possible alternative northern bike path route.

It may be unavoidable remove some trees so important community projects like level crossing removals can proceed. However, it’s hard to see why so many trees and shrubs along South Parade have been and will be removed, especially with no warning or explanation to the community.

This just adds to the concerns of residents along Glen Ebor Avenue about the LXRA’s conduct and handling of tree removals from Blackburn Road to Springvale Road.

And in the middle of all of this, the government is still refusing to widen Blackburn Station’s narrow, cramped subway, a vital once in a generation opportunity to get it right for the future.

For the LXRA’s non-information about vegetation removal, see http://bit.ly/1VrH0IL, and for VicRoads’ unilateral announcement of a southern route for the bike path, see http://bit.ly/25xvW32.