Forty-four trees to be lopped at Park Lane caravan park

Tree lovers are planning to fight a proposal by Park Lane Holiday Parks to remove 44 trees from its Phillip Island Road site, including valuable mature gums up to 23 metres tall.

In 2022 Park Lane bought A Maze’N Things and accommodation and have since been clearing and developing the site, now applying for a permit for 23 replacement cabins at 1805 and 1821-1825 Phillip Island Road, Cowes.

There will also be new car parks and a road upgrade.

The new cabins will replace 30 older caravans and cabins and won’t be “a significant intensification of the existing use”.

Phillip Island’s tree canopy is struggling in the face of die-back, predation and drought, with Bass Coast Shire Council in recent years rolling out its significant tree register and urban forest strategy (see separate story).

However, according to the permit’s arboriculture assessment, Park Lane plans to remove vegetation to minimise bushfire risk and does not require planning approval.

A total of 68 trees were assessed, with the 44 to be removed including species of high retention value, with many natives including eucalypts, banksias, paperbark, she oaks, and bottle brush, with many in good health.

Conservationists told the Advertiser they would object to the proposal.

Friends of the Koalas said the proposal should be called in by Bass Coast Shire councillors.

“The loss of 44 trees from the site, and the associated development is a highly undesirable outcome and will adversely affect native wildlife, including bats, recently re-introduced bandicoots, and birds including the recently re-introduced bush stone-curlew,” the Friends of the Koalas’ objection states.

The submission said the development would encourage a greater density of visitors, which would increase the bushfire risk.

“The bushfire overlay seems to be merely being used to justify the removal of valuable habitat trees.

“The site is currently a pleasant, natural area to stay, but would become just another intense accommodation offering.

“Visitors to the island come to immerse themselves in nature, not to experience just another suburb filled with buildings.”

Nine trees

Last year Park Lane Holiday Parks applied for a planning permit to construct four additional glamping pods, six cabins, and a jumping pad, alongside removal of nine trees, which included established eucalypt and melaleuca, which have regional endangered status.

A Maze’N Things was established by Geoff Moed and Sandy Bell about 30 years ago, and was sold in 2021 as three separate businesses including the tourist attraction, caravan park and motel, as well as Rusty Water Brewery Restaurant and Bar.

Park Lane Holiday Parks operate six holiday parks across Victoria and said on Phillip Island they would focus on accommodation, keen to “heavily invest in the holiday park”.