Native trees to make way for sport precinct upgrade

VICTORIAN native trees are among the vegetation set to get the chop from the Queenscliff recreation reserve.

Councillors last week approved a planning permit that will see 30 trees removed from the site to make room for infrastructure improvements to the sport precinct.

The plan has received little objection from the community after public submissions, with council receiving 13 letters of support to only four objections.

The general manager for planning and infrastructure Phil Josipovic said a copy of the draft landscape plan for the sports precinct had been made available to objectors prior to a planning review meeting held on August 10.

“As part of that process there was a commitment made to objectors that we would also plant additional trees in that precinct,” he said.

Plans for the proposed site revealed a commitment for 43 trees to be planted within the area, with a further 10 to be planted after discussions with objectors. Those who wrote in support of the plan highlighted public need for the new facilities the Queenscliff Sport Precinct will provide and the importance of club to the community.

“The removal will not impact the heritage value of the precinct,” Mr Josipovic said. While the buildings and works in the area associated with the sport precinct concept plan do not require a planning permit removal of vegetation from the site does.