Melton council and local environmentalists are opposing the construction of a homemaker centre that would require the removal of century-old trees near Ryans Creek.
Town planners Hellier McFarland lodged a planning permit application for the bulky- goods centre in November.
The Federation Drive development, with 51 tenants and 1520 car spaces, would be built in three stages.
The application is expected to be heard by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal after the council did not make a decision within the required 60 days.
Melton Environment Group president Daryl Akers said he wasn’t against the whole development, with his concerns restricted to a small area of the site that includes 100 trees, 12 of them old-growth.
“There is a proposal to clear a small remnant red gum [and] grey box woodland beside a small reserve at Ryans Creek,’’ Mr Akers said.
“The vast bulk of the land at this site is of little environmental significance. We have no problem with the development, only the small area where there’s several century-old trees.” Mr Akers, who has made a submission to VCAT, said native birds including galahs, parrots and corellas used the trees.
“Melton’s creeks are now the only places where old trees of this nature survive,’’
he said.
“We have to protect old gum trees so people moving into Melton don’t ask, ‘Where are all the trees?’”
Council planning services manager Bob Baggio said the council wouldn’t support the application at the VCAT hearing.
“Council is concerned about the proposed removal of the existing trees, given their environmental significance and opportunities to integrate the trees into any future redevelopment of the site,’’ he said.
Mediation will be held between Hellier McFarland and the council on March 20, with a VCAT hearing scheduled for April 28.
