CALLS for the Energy and Resources minister, Lily D’Ambrosio, to vote for common sense and ensure Victoria’s Regional tree canopy will be secured by adding $1 billion in tree canopy are getting louder.

The Victorian Government has ignored the overwhelming recommendation of a highly-credentialled expert committee, the Electric Line Clearance Consultative Committee, (ELCCC) which wants to reduce unnecessary tree pruning around power lines in Victoria in areas designated as low bushfire risk.

 ELCCC committee member and Tahara Bridge farmer, Howard Templeton, said the tree canopy in regional Victoria was under threat which brings risk to lives in major heatwaves, particularly for the elderly, not to mention the vast benefits trees bring to our day to day lives. 

“The Governments’ poor decision-making puts at risk $1 billion in tree canopy and an additional 10,000 trees,” he said.

“The changes we are seeking impact areas designated as low bushfire risk. 

“They are practical, safe and come at zero cost to taxpayers.”

Mr Templeton, who is also a former mayor of the Southern Grampians Shire Council, said the ELCCC was made up of 12 members representing various elements of the community.

He said he had been a member of the ELCCC since 2013, advising the government of the need to reduce hard pruning of trees in smaller towns.

“There’s power distribution companies, they’ve all got a rep on there, there’s CFA and municipal association representatives,” Mr Templeton said.

“We shouldn’t be pruning these trees in the middle of the towns,” he said.

“It’s not high voltage lines out in the country, we’re talking about trees under low fire risk, low voltage power lines in the towns where the bush fire risk is extremely low.

“You don’t have fires under the trees out the front of the post office.

“I’ve been in the fire brigade my whole life – I suppose legally since I was 16 – I even got a medal for fighting fires – and you don’t see fires starting from low voltage lines.”

“The benefits of having a tree canopy far outweighs that of not having one.

“More people die from heat waves every year than bushfires.

“Everyone says oh, bushfires, bushfires, when you talk about pruning trees, and that’s why they go in so hard.

“The (contractors) and power companies are just destroying them.

“In South Australia where its much drier and they’re at much higher risk of fire – the regulated clearance between the powerlines and trees is only 100 ml.

“About 18 months ago in Victoria, it was reduced from 1 metre to 300ml – we’re finally starting to get traction but the government is winding up the ELCCC.”

Leading Academic and Botanist Dr Greg Moore said, “This is bureaucracy gone mad with a legitimate, sensible and safe proposal being overturned despite the overwhelming recommendation of the committee established to provide expert advice on this matter.

“My concern is that between 500 and 1000 Victorian lives could be lost in a single heatwave event due to reduced tree canopy. 

“In addition, there are enormous health and economic benefits that will be lost for future generations of Victorians due to one poor decision,” he said.

Tree canopy is a major issue for Victorians:  surveys have shown tree canopy is a concern to 90 per cent of people.

“The facts are in complete contrast to the Government’s spin,” Dr Moore said.

“What the Government proposes is not safer.

“It actually increases safety risks and its line about preferring gradual change does not square up with the facts.

“As a community we cannot afford to trash regional Victoria’s environmental future and lose the health and economic benefits that increased tree canopy brings to us all.”

Trees are believed to contribute to property value uplift, lower energy bills, and overall cost savings. The health and mental health benefits of trees has also been well established.