Preserving the Avenue

By Lachlan Ellis

Council is inviting feedback from the community on two important documents that will be key to the management of Bacchus Marsh’s historic Avenue of Honour.

At its recent Ordinary Council Meeting, Council voted to put two draft documents out for public consultation: the Draft Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour Management Strategy and the Draft Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour Preservation Plan.

The documents were developed by Council in consultation with expert arborists, heritage personnel and other key stakeholders.

In the officers’ report presented to Council, officers noted the importance of the Avenue of Honour as a “community asset with historical, aesthetic and scientific significance”, with many of the original trees being over 100 years old.

However, given their age, these trees are “less tolerant of changes in the environment and have structural defects present”.

Mayor Cr Rod Ward said the purpose of the strategy and the plan was to ensure the Avenue was effectively managed as a living memorial and preserved for future generations.

“Council is the custodian of this key historic community asset and responsible for ensuring it upholds its historic and aesthetic significance,” Cr Ward said.

“We have ensured the significant maintenance we have undertaken to date has positively impacted the health and longevity of the trees in The Avenue, and these documents will outline the way forward.

“The strategy and the plan include detailed information about the current condition of the Avenue and plans for the strategic management, maintenance and replacement of trees,” Cr Ward said.

“We take the significance of each tree very seriously as they honour someone who has fought for our country, so when a tree needs replacing due to bad health, new trees are propagated from the removed tree, so all trees remain true to type.”

A range of activities are planned during the consultation period, and Cr Ward encouraged the community to get involved prior to the strategy and plan being adopted by Council.

Information sessions will be held at Lerderderg Library, Bacchus Marsh on:

Tuesday 15 August – 12.00pm to 2.00pm
Friday 18 August – 10.00am-12.00pm
Monday 21 August – 1.00pm-3.00pm
Wednesday 23 August – 5.00pm-7.00pm

Further information and the opportunity to provide feedback online is available on our website: haveyoursay.moorabool.vic.gov.au/bmaoh-preservation.

A further report will be presented to Council following the engagement period, which will run for four weeks.