As reported previously on Mountain Journal, many regional areas are in danger of being ‘developed to death’ as people move from major cities, seeking a Tree or Sea Change. This is playing out in many areas, including Bright in north eastern Victoria, where there is a subdivision and development plan that is currently being considered by the Alpine Council. This has been opposed by many residents in Bright.

In an update to this campaign, the Alpine Shire Council is now recommending that a sub-division permit which will see the destruction of two of Bright’s heritage trees be approved at next week’s Council meeting.

This statement is from the Bright Gateway Protection Group.

The trees are beloved by Bright’s residents, many of whom are devastated that their elected representatives have failed to acknowledge the trees’ significance and apply a local heritage overlay to ensure they are protected. A heritage report was commissioned by the Council, but to date it has not been released to the public, leaving rate-payers to question the Shire’s transparency.

Alpine Shire Council’s agenda for their upcoming November 28th meeting states:

“The preliminary assessment suggests that the avenue of trees is likely to meet the threshold of local significance and may warrant the application of a Heritage Overlay in the Alpine Planning Scheme.”

However, the sub-division recommendation also states that two of these trees are likely to be lost – to allow for the construction of a new intersection. Residents feel let down, knowing that legal protection for the trees is warranted, but at the same time, Council feel free to ignore their own report!

The trees are located along the Great Alpine Road at the Western entrance to Bright. They were likely planted after WW2 and have become renowned throughout Victoria for their stunning visual display in autumn. Locals feel that any tree loss will diminish the unique character of the town of Bright, and have a negative impact on its tourism industry.

Bright’s Gateway Protection Group have been advocating for the preservation of the trees since the plan to cull them was leaked from within Council earlier this year. Their negotiations with Alpine Shire Council reached a stalemate several months ago, with the heritage advocates feeling that their pleas were being dismissed. The group are still hopeful that the trees can be saved before any work begins on the new estate, and are seeking advice from Heritage Victoria.