Do you live in, or have you ever visited Mount Beauty, Victoria at the foothills of ski resort Falls Creek? 

We know visitors to our town love this place as much as we do so we're reaching out Australia-wide (indeed worldwide) for your input. 

The beautiful 'Mop Top' trees in the main street of Mount Beauty, Victoria are under threat of being removed by the Alpine Shire Council.

They provide beautiful shade over the footpath, car parking and hot tarmac road. Provide a natural soft line of sight for the eye, and visitors to the area frequently comment how the trees are one of their first great impressions of our town. The heat that will be contained in the street after their removal will be stifling. Those lovely big trees are natural air coolers. 

We have been told they are creating branch and leaf litter problems for some local businesses who wish to see Council more regularly maintain them. Council have since looked at removing them citing root issues. We're asking them to please find another way! They are considering some dubious replacements below. 

If you live in the Kiewa Valley, have visited Mount Beauty, skied/snowboarded at Falls Creek or enjoy road riding, mountain biking, car clubs or any other sport or recreation that has brought you to our beautiful valley, PLEASE lend us your support to save our trees in the upgrade plans of our beautiful main street. 

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COUNCIL'S PLAN:
For the full picture here is Council's new design. http://www.alpineshire.vic.gov.au/files/Council_services/Mount_Beauty_Streetscape.pdf

Council’s other upgrade components look good with various additional planter boxes (in sunny positions we think edible plants like free-standing bush beans, herbs and edible flowers would be wonderful for tourists & locals to enjoy), decorative tree grates good idea for free water flow to tree's roots, bike racks, improving the footpath with stamped concrete, kids play structure, recycled timber furniture, and rock wall an entrance feature. Those additions will be great and lift the area.

The contentious issue at the centre of the upgrade is cutting down the existing large mature shady Mop Top trees on Hollands Street and replacing them with the list provided by Council below. 

Indicative tree species list:

Acer campestre ‘Queen Elizabeth’ (Maple)
*My Note: Deciduous. Leaves are going to fall and still be a drain blockage that we have now. A leaf vacuum is suggested for collection of mop top leaves and then used as useful compost for other trees managed by Council.

Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Worplesdon’ (Liquidambar)
*Note: Best where there is adequate space for ample root development. Avoid planting near drains.
http://www.flemings.com.au/ornamental_details.asp?CULT_ID=WORPLE

Prunus ‘Crimson Spire’ (Flowering Plum)
*Note: Globose fruits to 25 mm may be produced under certain conditions.
http://www.flemings.com.au/ornamental_details.asp?CULT_ID=FASTNIGR

Pyrus calleryana ‘Aristocrat’ (Ornamental Pear)
*Note: Russet coloured fruit, speckled with creamy-yellow. Inedible.
http://www.flemings.com.au/ornamental_details.asp?CULT_ID=ARISTOCR

Sapium sebiferum (Chinese Tallow)
*Note: Invasive potential in suitable conditions!! Plant responsibly in lawns, garden beds or isolated streetscapes where its seeds are contained or removed and pose no threat to native vegetation. Sap is toxic.
http://www.torbaytreefarmers.com.au/tree-info.php?tree_id=73

Ulmus parvifolia ‘Todd’ (Elm)
*Note:

Zelkova serrata (Japanese Zelkova)
*Note: Deciduous tree growing to 18 metres high with a 15 metre spread. Developing a short single trunk with ascending branches forming a conical to rounded canopy. Insignificant green flowers in spring, followed by dry nut-like fruits or wingless drupes that ripen in autumn. http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/welcome/royal_botanic_garden/gardens_and_domain/Plant_of_the_Month/Zelkova_serrata ;

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