Landmark row of trees cut down for new lane

THE State Government has gone ahead with its plan to rip out 120 poplar trees along the Huon Highway despite some community concern.

The last remaining trees were removed on Tuesday, leaving Huon Valley woman Rae Naughton, who lives adjacent to the trees, upset.

“I’m sad they have gone but I’ve accepted the decision now,” she said.

Mrs Naughton had described the trees as a “landmark entrance to the Huon Valley”.

Mrs Naughton was somewhat placated by the fact the Government agreed to plant about 27 poplar trees at the edge of her property.

A Department of State Growth spokeswoman said the new trees would be planted further away from the road to avoid any risk to road users, and allow for any future highway expansion.

“The tree removal on Huon Highway finished on Tuesday, and the contractor was on-site yesterday to complete some minor work,” she said.

The poplar trees were on the road reserve which is Crown land and were removed to make way for a right-hand turn lane into Willie Smith’s Apple Shed.

Lonnavale resident Geoffrey Swan, who campaigned to save the trees, maintains the trees did not have to be removed, but said he had now given up the fight.

“It’s done and dusted,” he said.

The State Government will spend almost $1 million on the associated roadworks after many people in the Huon Valley called for a right-turn lane to be built to address road safe- ty concerns. The right-turn lane project is being delivered by the Department of State Growth’s maintenance contractor, Stornoway, through an existing contractual arrangement. Work is due to start in early March.