Readers would remember that at the last council meeting, the MRC landscaping plan for the Caulfield Racecourse was voted down by councillors – only 7 were present and the vote was 4 to 3 to reject the application. It has not taken the MRC long to come back with their revised plans.
All we can glean in terms of proposed changes from the officer’s report is contained in the following quotes –
Replacing 6 Magnolia Grandiflora with 6 Tristaniopsis Laurina (Water Gums).
It is noted that the majority of the Southern Magnolias and Water Gums will be planted in above ground planter boxes, rather than in deep soil. There is sufficient soil depth to enable growth. (page 27)
Interestingly, the submitted plans refer to the magnolia variety as a ‘large tree’ with a mature height of 8 metres. We freely admit that our botanical knowledge is very limited. However a quick Google search tells us that this variety of tree can grow to well above the 8 metres. More significant is the Moreland City council information (presented below) which clearly states that planters should not be used for this type of tree. The link is available at: https://www.moreland.vic.gov.au/living-in-moreland/environment/trees/tree-finder/magnolia-grandiflora/
The second variety listed is water gums. Again we get quoted growth sizes of 5 to 15 metres in well drained soil. See: https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/gnp10/tristaniopsis-laurina.html as one example.
All of the above raises these questions:
- Why the substitution?
- Why planters instead of in ground? Will these trees survive and flourish in planters?
- Why are the associated plans not clearly listing trees to be removed? All we can spot are 5 trees labelled as to be ‘reused’ – whatever that means?
- Hundreds of plantings will be nothing more than tiny shrubs at best
It will be interesting to observe what happens Tuesday night. If council is serious about tree preservation, the urban forest strategy then these plans do not add anything to the existing policies.
Glen Eira Debates 
July 17, 2022 at 8:26 PM
Good post. If a ratepayer was to submit this, it would have been rejected by officers and not need to go to Councillors. Both the MRC and officers not doing their job.
July 18, 2022 at 2:13 PM
There’s nothing I can see in these new plans to change the minds of the four councillors who voted this out last time. But three weeks is a long time for badgering of the four. Will be interesting.
July 18, 2022 at 7:51 PM
All good points. The MRC actions speak louder than their words. There has never been any indications the MRC have ever cared about trees. Gambling is their trade.
The Trustees are still pretending by leasing 26ha to the MRC they are off the hook when it come to accountability for what happens on the whole 54ha of land they are responsible for.
Just a few years on since everyone was sent packing in scandal and disgrace its all back to the same status-quo of self-interested managers that could not recognise a conflict of interest if it hit the in the face. All spiced up with a want-to-be land developers wanting a slice of the 2-3-4 billion dollar pie that’s in the pipeline.
As for the Glen Eira bureaucrats they are just fringe beggars hoping to pick a few crumbs from the rich mans table.
July 19, 2022 at 11:15 PM
Having watch the council meeting tonight on the racecourses issues. Magee is such a conformist it’s hard to believe. Honestly! so long as people like him get elected there is no hope of any change.
Cr Zyngier quoted two songs on the issues raised. Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” They Took Away the Trees and put them in a tree museum and you paid a dollar and a half to see them” and Red Gum’s “Killing Floor” “If You Don’t Fight You lose”
I’ll toss this one in for Magee. The 5th Dimensions “Puppet Man” “If you want to see me do my thing, pull my strings” I’m the puppet man”