By Mikayla van Loon
In a last ditch effort to save 40 years worth of native conservation work, the Croydon Conservation Society (CCS) has pleaded with Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP) officials to navigate around a section of planting rather than destroy the habitat.
In an open letter to transport infrastructure minister Jacinta Allan, the Society has urged the minister to “intervene to protect 2.3 km of habitat beside the railway line on VicRoads land in Croydon” along Wicklow Avenue.
CCS president Liz Sanzaro said after engaging with LXRP representatives at information sessions, zoom meetings and via email, it became clear the majority of their planting would be removed and replaced by concrete structures.
“The planting we’re concerned about was done by the Conservation Society over 40 years ago in order to provide more habitat in the area and also to help change the amenity of what was a rather unattractive street because the rail line was visible all the way along,” she said.
“With the passing of one of the original members who started the group in 1964, the planting was named the Crane Memorial Plantation. So it has great significance.”
The section of reserve has become home to many native species, including endangered Powerful Owls, something Ms Sanzaro said would be a great loss to the Croydon area.
“There will be no noise reduction courtesy of the vegetation. There will be a heat sink in our municipality instead of habitat for birds and other creatures,” she said.
Ms Sanzaro said there was little to no ability to attempt to compromise on the design of the new rail line or plans to help save the natural conservation reserve.
“We just felt this was not a very fair game. We were not consulted. We were told, we were informed. We were corrected when we asked questions and we just feel there are many residents who live along that street who are going to be confronted with a concrete wall.”
Not against the crossing removal nor the improvement to infrastructure in Croydon, Ms Sanzaro said it was more so the seeming lack of consideration for the environment for ease of building.
In the letter, CCS has stated it does “not oppose the crossing removal: we understand it will go ahead. We oppose poor design.”
“We are not unreasonable. We understand that the LXRP might need to remove a small number of trees at grade level to allow access for trucks or diggers,” the letter states.
“We are willing to meet you halfway. Please meet with us. This project could be something we can all be proud of, if it represents consultative design and respect for local residents and businesses.”
Having been hopeful the new station’s concept designs would include regenerative planting solutions underneath the proposed bridge, CCS members were disappointed to see car parking allocated to the underpass.
“We’re going from very village-type native vegetation into something that’s extremely urbanised and built, made of hard materials with no opportunities for softening or cooling,” Ms Sanzaro said.
With new planning regulations and developments Ms Sanzaro said the shire of Maroondah has already dropped from 35 per cent tree cover to around 26 per cent.
“We’re going backwards, right at the time when climate change is in everybody’s face and we shouldn’t be doing the reverse.”
The number of plants the Crane Memorial Plantation caters to, Ms Sanzaro said couldn’t possibly be relocated somewhere else in the Maroondah Council area.
“We don’t actually have anywhere nearby that could accommodate the number of plants that are going to be removed.
“Maroondah doesn’t believe in offset planting and going and planting somewhere else in Victoria because we don’t really want to have to travel to visit our vegetation.”
Although told “modified plans will be coming” Ms Sanzaro said she’s not holding out a lot of hope.
Transport infrastructure minister Jacinta Allan was contacted for comment but with government bodies under caretaker mode in the lead up to the election, no comment could be provided.
