Tree lopping under investigation at caravan park

Bass Coast Shire is investigating the destruction of mature gum trees at the former Islander Caravan Park in Cowes, after resident anger at the unexpected “denuded skyline”.

The new owners of the site have defended the action, saying they didn’t need a permit, adding dead trees were removed for safety before they kick-start the caravan park with 49 new cabins and a pool complex.

Earlier this month resident Jonette Wauchope said she was shocked to see bulldozers level trees at 137 Thompson Avenue including a “very much alive magnificent” grey gum.

“There were many trees on the site. I used to love the large gums as the birds would congregate there each morning and evening. It was a real haven for them,” Jonette said.

“Surely some of the trees could have been saved.”

Cowes resident Wendy Bojkowski agreed, saying the trees were “brutally removed without any thought, consultation or planning”.

“A drive into town will reveal another denuded skyline. Another flock of birds desperately looking for shelter,” Wendy said.

“Are we going to be just another Gold Coast? It is not progress to cover every square metre of the earth in concrete and glass. This is driven by greed, but you cannot put a price on trees.”

Investigation

Shire CEO Ali Wastie last week said the removal of vegetation at 137 Thompson Avenue was under investigation. 

“The land is within a Vegetation Protection Overlay and is also subject to the native vegetation removal requirements within the Planning Scheme,” Ms Wastie said.

“As our investigation is still active, we cannot provide details of the alleged breach.”

Ms Wastie said the shire took “illegal vegetation removal seriously” and had long advocated the maximum fine for an individual should be significantly increased.

Ms Wastie said the shire did not currently have any applications for the use of the land at 137 Thompson Avenue, or for subdivision.

Phillip Island Conservation Society president Jeff Nottle said they were “always concerned with the seemingly relentless removal of mature trees” for urban development.

“Loss of urban tree coverage, important habitat and biodiversity are some the costs while the gains are often just another building or another car park,” Jeff said.

“Council needs to act now to protect what we have left and introduce strategies to ensure we all gain the benefits of greater tree coverage.”

PICS presented to council in 2019 on the need for a strategy to maintain and improve urban forests, with other shires having detailed strategies.

Developer response

The land, formerly the Islander Caravan Park, is owned by Holiday Lifestyle Cowes, a company which also has caravan parks in St Leonards, Portland and Werribee.

According to one of its Melbourne directors, Lauren Clarke, while they negotiated the lease to the land last year, they only settled on the property last month.

Previous advertisements for the site marketed it as an “affordable accommodation village ideal for retirees and first home buyers”, with house and land from $350,000.

But Lauren said their plans were now to establish 49 cabins on the site which would not require a permit, as it was previously a caravan park with 95 sites.

She said in coming months they would apply for a planning permit for a 600m² facility including an outdoor pool, barbecue area, kitchen, toilet block, showers and laundry.

Lauren said trees had been removed because they were in poor condition and posed a safety risk to neighbours and none were on the list of trees requiring a permit in the vegetation protection overlay.

“There was an arborist report from the previous owners that showed most of the trees in poor condition,” Lauren said.

She said the arborist found no high value trees on the site and many were rated as having ‘no’, ‘low or low-moderate’ retention value.

“Several trees have fallen and caused damage to property. One fell onto a neighbouring property and destroyed 50 metres of shared boundary fencing, one fell across our internal roadway, narrowly missing existing caravans and one large tree fell within the rear of the property, which fortunately was vacant land.

“Owners of homes at the rear of the property have complained to us on numerous occasions, about the dangerous nature and risk associated with the trees near their property boundary. The visually significant and healthy trees fronting Thompson Avenue remain.”

She said they hoped to be open to tourists from 2022 and intended to plant up to 150 new plants.