MOORABOOL Landcare groups are up in arms over two protected red gums they claim were removed by a Bacchus Marsh vegetable farmer in the dark of night.
But Dino Boratto, owner of the Lerderderg Street and Darley-based Boratto Farms, says he has done “nothing wrong”.
He said an older, protected tree fell in a storm and the second was removed legally for safety reasons.
Parwan Landcare Group members said they “watched in horror” as a contractor hired by Mr Boratto excavated one of the trees about 8.30pm on May 18 at land on Woolpack Road. Mr Boratto owns about 72 hectares that he intends to turn into a market garden and have it become the headquarters of his vegetable business.
The group called for a council investigation and for Mr Boratto to be made to pay for tree replacement and rehabilitation costs.
Mr Boratto said that although the 100-year-old gum that fell on its own would have required a permit for removal, the tree he felled was planted in the 1950s and required no approval from council or the Department of Sustainability and Environment.
“I’ve pulled out 500 trees already, mainly paper and cyprus gums that were shade for cows,” he said. “We didn’t need a permit for these. As this tree was less than 100 years old I did not need a permit for it either, and it was on a very dangerous lean.”
Mr Boratto said he was clearing space for his market garden, where he intended to employ up to 100 people, and the red gum would have posed a risk to employees.
“The council inspected the old tree that fell and had no issue,” he said.
Mr Boratto said the tree was removed at night to prevent additional costs for the excavator to return the following day.
But Parwan Landcare Group president Ruth Marnie claimed the tree was old enough to be from pre-white settlement time.
“That tree couldn’t possibly be only 56 years old. It’s much too large,” she said.
She said the community needed to cherish the few red gums left in the Bacchus Marsh valley.
Fellow Landcare member Simon Jolly said up to 100 red gum seedlings should be planted as a replacement. “It would be upsetting if the council doesn’t pursue this,” he said.
Moorabool Council spokesman Phil Weir said a permit was required to remove, lop or destroy native vegetation. He said council had no record of an application for the removal of any vegetation on the site. “The council has been investigating the matter since it was reported last week,” he said.
“The council’s environmental officer has undertaken a preliminary inspection from the road reserve. The council’s manager of statutory planning and building is writing to the land- holder to initiate a formal site inspection of the land, which will occur this week.”
The DSE’s Peter Codd said old red gums in paddocks were valuable as habitat trees for wildlife. “Red gums also provide a seed source for natural regeneration and their roots can protect against erosion.”
