A beautiful, decades old plane tree that is nearly 40 metres tall and with a trunk circumference of 2.5M, is going to be cut down by Boroondara Council. The tree, outside 7 Lorne Grove, Camberwell, is owned by the community and on public land: it has one of the most substantial canopies in the area and would leave a hole that it would be irreplaceable in our lifetime. Boroondara want to cut it down as it is “damaging public or private infrastructure” but in reality, the pavement is barely affected and the roots of this magnificent tree are a small price to pay for what it gives to wildlife and the community.

That the council could even contemplate cutting down such a important and healthy tree is breathtaking, but that they can make this decision unilaterally and simply tell the community of the decision without consultation is unacceptable. 

The tree belongs to us all. The loss of habitat and amenity it provides would be felt by us all. DEstruction of something so beautiful would be unforgivable.