Resident wants row of trees retained
An adjoining resident wants a commitment that a 400-metre long row of predominantly eucalyptus trees planted almost 50 years ago will not be removed as part of development on land formerly owned by the Drouin Golf and Country Club.
The stretch of trees about 10 metres wide provided a buffer between private property and the former first hole fairway and practice range on the golf course.
The first and parallel second hole were permanently closed to play last week.
They occupied part of land the golf club sold to developers for development as a residential estate.
Jill Harris whose acreage property with house on Princes Way backs on to the land said she fears the trees will be removed.
She said she did not know the developer’s intentions but had contacted the Friends of Drouin Trees group and Baw Baw Shire Council to support retaining the stand of trees.
One councillor told her the trees “were not earmarked for removal at this stage”.
Ms Harris has lived at the property for 19 years and said the trees provided welcome shade in summer and provided a buffer against strong westerly and south-westerly winds.
“I’m trying to speak up before it’s too late,” she said.
The golf club planted the trees when it developed the first and second holes on bushland it had bought and as part of a four-hole extension to the course to 18 holes.
The now closed first and second holes have been replaced by two new holes constructed by the developers as part of the first stage of its development accessed from McGlones Rd.