URGENT UPDATE: Environmental groups have launched a fierce campaign to save 43 trees threatened by the construction of the $122 million Dandenong Wellbeing Centre. This alarming development is unfolding at the JC Mills Reserve, where significant trees, including two endangered River Red Gums, could be removed without public notice.
The Greater Dandenong Council is moving forward with plans that many believe ignore essential environmental protections. The permit for removing the two River Red Gums, classified as remnant vegetation, is exempt from community review, raising serious concerns among local activists about transparency and ecological integrity.
“We are so alarmed to hear that over 40 trees will be destroyed, and all without the expected planning proposals and procedures,” stated Isabelle Nash of the Greater Dandenong Environment Group. Nash emphasized the critical role these mature trees play in providing vital canopy cover and heat relief during scorching summer months. “Imagine taking your family to the Wellbeing Centre to cool down in the summer heat and then scorch in the sun walking back to overheated cars,” she added.
While the council claims that the two River Red Gums are of moderate retention value and in poor health, Nash and other environmental advocates are not convinced. They argue that the removal of these trees contradicts the council’s commitment to sustainability and tree protection laws on council-owned land.
The Greater Dandenong Council plans to plant over 140 new trees and more than 25,000 plants as part of the project. However, critics like sustainability award-winner Zoe Mohl point out that it takes years for new trees to mature and provide the same environmental benefits as the trees being removed. “What is the purpose of making these laws if they’re not overreaching the community?” Mohl questioned, expressing disbelief that government and developers are not prioritizing tree conservation.
Local resident Gaye Guest echoed these sentiments, stating her outrage over the potential loss of River Red Gums. “We fought to save the River Red Gum at the Maurie Kirby Velodrome – and won. Yet, Council continues to approve the destruction of significant trees across the municipality. This isn’t progress; it’s erasure.”
Friends’ groups from nearby parks, including Braeside Park and Eumemmerring Creek, have also raised their voices in alarm, urging the council to reconsider its plans. The council is expected to address these concerns in a briefing on September 1, 2023, but in the meantime, many community members feel deeply unsettled by the proposed actions.
Sanjay Manivasagasivam, involved in city futures planning, acknowledged the concerns but stated the council would not comment further until after the upcoming briefing. “As a matter of courtesy, we will thoroughly brief councillors first so that they don’t learn about it in the media,” he explained.
The Dandenong Wellbeing Centre is set to replace the decades-old Dandenong Oasis aquatic center, focusing on allied health, education, fitness, and wellness. The two-storey facility will include two separate pool halls and a sports pavilion, with an expected opening date in 2027.
As the community rallies to protect these vital trees, the urgency for action is palpable. The fate of 43 trees hangs in the balance, and local advocates are demanding accountability from their leaders. The decision made in the coming days could set a precedent for future developments in the region.
Stay tuned for updates as this situation unfolds and community voices continue to push for change.
