SEVEN out of nine planning applications this month in the Island Ward of Bass Coast Council have either involved the removal of trees in vegetation protection overlays or building developments on land subject to inundation.
Bass Council approved the removal of four trees in Koala Street and the removal of one and two trees elsewhere in Cowes despite the areas being subject to vegetation protection overlays.
The removal of six trees in a vegetation protection overlay was also approved for Surf Beach, and the removal of vegetation in an area with environmental significance and significant landscape overlays in Rhyll.
Council approved an extension to a dwelling subject to an inundation overlay in Silverleaves and the construction of a dwelling and removal of vegetation in a vegetation protection overlay and land subject to inundation also in Silverleaves.
In Grantville a two lot subdivision was approved on land subject to inundation.
Cr Jon Temby said Council was consistently accepting the removal of native vegetation in vegetation protection overlay zones and approving building developments in areas subject to inundation overlays.
“If we’re removing trees we’re damaging the environment,” said Cr Temby.
The current legislation is inadequate according to Cr Temby because it is based on sea level rises that are going to be exceeded and while Council does not have a legal responsibility to stop people building in inundation overlay zones he would be keen to see some method of informing people in those areas of the importance of vegetation and maintaining canopy cover.
Secondly if they are in an inundation zone Cr Temby said, Council had a moral responsibility to let them know that their house may well be uninsurable and possibly uninhabitable in the foreseeable future.
Cr Jan Thompson said changes were needed to better to protect our environment.
Bothered by the removal of trees Cr Tim O’Brien said he was surprised how little power they had as a council, and as councillors to affect these decisions.
“We are caught in a bind with the State Government planning policy,” he said.
“Would a sensible person approve a construction in Silverleaves which is subject to inundation?” asked Cr O’Brien.
“Would the sensible person approve the removal of vegetation and increasingly turn this beautiful area into what will look like a densely populated suburb of Melbourne?”
Cr O’Brien said a sensible person probably would not.
“We approve this with an apology,” he said.
“This does not allow us to protect the character of the places in which we live.”
Cr Mat Morgan said the State Government was dramatically underestimating the amount of sea level rise that we are going to experience in coming decades.
“To allow people to develop when we know that those houses will be uninsurable and underwater in our lifetimes is disgraceful,” said Cr Morgan.
Cr Temby said he was pleased to see Bass Coast Shire achieve well over 7% better than the average for other councils across Victoria in dealing with planning applications in prompt periods of time.
Bass Coast Shire last month determined 93% of applications within the statutory timeframe which was well above the state average.
Council planning officers were congratulated and commended for their work.