Moorabool Council says it, the RSL, Heritage Victoria and the National Trust should all be consulted about protecting Bacchus Marsh’s Avenue of Honour before any decision is made on allowing toxic soil to be dumped in Maddingley.

The owners of a former brown coal mine have applied to take contaminated soil from the Westgate Tunnel Project, as the National Trust collectively names the elm avenue 2020 ‘Tree of the Year’.

The truck route would go straight through the historic avenue on its way to the landfill.

Mayor David Edwards said the natural feature was of enormous significance to the town, region and Victoria, attracting many visitors to Bacchus Marsh.

“(We need to) ensure the protection of the Avenue of Honour from truck movements every six minutes, 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Cr Edwards said.

“The Avenue of Honour was planted to commemorate locals who volunteered to serve in WW1.

“As custodians, Council must do everything we can to protect this very special place.”

Moorabool spends more than $300,000 a year on the Avenue.   This week four trees are being removed and replaced with plants grown from the seeds of the original 1918 elms.

The Bacchus Marsh Express on the day of the planting, 10 August 1918

Gabrielle Hodson
Author: Gabrielle Hodson

Online, radio, TV and print journalist since 1993. BA (Hum) majoring in journalism Deakin University. Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/MooraboolOnline I'd love to hear your news tips 🙂 Email -- news@mooraboolonloine.com.au OR send us a message via Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/MooraboolOnline

2 COMMENTS

  1. Please Moorabool Council step up and stop this Toxic Waste being dumped on our beautiful town. For these trucks to get to the soil dumping site they have to go through Bacchus Marsh township, past the Hospital , past the High/Secondary School and pass the Grammar School going past the sick and vulnerable, pass the two Secondary Schools where the children of our future attend everyday. Majority of these people chose Bacchus Marsh to live and educate our children because of the Clean town and air we all breathe. What are the Councillors, we voted in, thinking letting and allowing this Toxic Soil to be DUMPED into Bacchus Marsh to poison our town and children.

  2. I agree totally Diane, every person and every associated organisation in Bacchus Marsh – plus the Shire , needs to stand tall on this issue. We simply cannot allow this soil to be dumped in our town. No one wants Bacchus Marsh to be defined by this.
    Jeanette McGonegal

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