The trees to be removed should not have been allowed to grow in the first place.

I consider that roads should be clear from table drain to opposite table drain.

This road was constructed many years ago and these trees have been allowed to grow in or very close to the table drain since then.

Lack of maintenance in the past has caused some of them to become substantial trees. 

I hope this is only the start of upgrading this road as there are a number of problems with it - one very narrow bridge, a substantial roadside drop which should be protected by a barrier and the road surface which is at the end of its life to name a few. 

The recent fire at Moyston was made worse by the corridors of trees and undergrowth along the roads and in farm plantations.

There is always another side to consider!

Trees may not be the answer to all problems and should be planted in appropriate areas and we and the animals/birds/reptiles may be a lot safer if the roads are clear to the table drains.

Moyston

Margaret Burbridge of Ararat Landcare, you and I have to stop criticising VicRoads.

Because, as I recently learnt at a meeting in Horsham, saying that VicRoads can't build roads and the Western Highway hurts the feelings of the organisation's staff. 

The staff have permanent employment and regular salaries but are unable to plan the duplication of the Western Highway in its entirety as complete funding for the planning hasn't come through. 

So they do their best. 

Unfortunately that doesn't include maths, although they are good at cutting down trees. 

At the recent hearing in Horsham, councillors were able to point to variations in figures on different pages of the 300-page presentation of the proposed bypass through Riverside. 

VicRoads said that the highway duplication from Ballarat to Beaufort would need the removal of 220 trees. Western Highway Alternative Mindsets questioned the number of trees removed and were told only 820 had to go. 

When the government minister asked VicRoads to confirm the figure in writing he was given 1020 trees, many of which were 400 to 800 years old. 

Their age didn't matter as VicRoads replaces them several times over in their highway landscaping. 

The trouble is that to replace an old growth tree VicRoads has to protect those metre-high saplings for 600 years. 

A Melbourne University professor wonders how carefully particular indigenous species are replaced. 

VicRoads does not have to consider bird or wildlife habitat or drivers' amenity when removing trees. 

I wonder how many trees will go for the Grampians Way? 

So just sit back and relax Margaret and we'll leave Victoria's beautiful future to the experts.

Laharum