Indented Head locals campaign to save red gum trees

A PETITION fighting the removal of red gum trees estimated to be more than 200 years old at Indented Head has attracted more than 1,250 signatures.

Meagan Hinch started the change.org petition – Save the Indented Head River Redgums – which is directed to Bellarine MP Lisa Neville.

Ms Hinch said Indented Head residents did not want the removal of red gums situated on the corner of Batman Road and Seascape Drive – some of the last of the remnant native vegetation in the area.

She said a developer was planning to fell the 200-year-old trees to make way for a 75- dwelling estate.

“These trees are integral to the biodiversity of the local area.

“They may not only provide habitat for local flora and fauna, the eucalypts also provide foraging areas to the endangered Swift Parrot in the winter months, with a number of sightings of these birds by locals.

“The local extinction rate is skyrocketing, and we need to take action now to prevent severe ecological damage to this precious area.”

The imminent removal of these trees comes after a swap of land between the City of Greater Geelong and developers of the Seabreeze estate last July, which resulted in the protection of 13.63 hectares of ecologically significant land now under council control.

Indented Head Community Association secretary Ingrid Novosel said it was very sad that the smaller red gums adjacent Seascape Drive might be removed, but that the majority was saved in the 13 hectares.

“It would be great if they could be saved, but this land was always owned by the developer and now with the swap, they have made the decision to include this extra area in the development as it is adjacent now the three hectares on the corner of Batman Road and Seascape Drive,” Ms Novosel said.

“A green strip of trees adjacent Seascape Drive from Batman Road to the wetland basin would be the best solution.”

To sign the petition, head to change.org and= search “Save the Indented Head River Redgums”.