By Oliver Lees
Macedon Ranges council will once again push the state government to provide complete protection of Gisborne’s historic Bunjil Creek Bridge and surrounding mature trees in a bid to stop a plan that will see them removed to make way for a roundabout.
At a meeting last week a majority of councillors voted in favour of submitting additional amendments to the existing heritage overlay.
The amendments would include the two include two century old oaks and one elm tree located at the Hamilton Street, Kilmore Road and Melbourne Road intersection at the gateway to the Gisborne township.
The efforts to introduce a new heritage overlay comes as preparatory works are under way to improve traffic flow and road safety, a project which received backing from Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas.
Council first sought to protect the assets in May last year, but was denied by Minister for Planning Richard Wynne on the basis that an agreement had been struck with Regional Roads Victoria (RRV) for them to be retained in any development works.
RRV has since stated that there is an increased flood risk if bridge and its bluestone channel are retained in their current form.
Speaking in support of protecting the bridge, Macedon Ranges council deputy mayor Rob Guthrie said he believes it is possible to raise the underside of the bluestone bridge, thus removing the identified flood risk.
“This could be accommodated within the roundabout design,” Cr Guthrie said.
“I think we should be protecting these assets, they’re very, very important. Let’s carry out the works from the Gisborne Flood Study and let it live for another 147 years.”
But councillor Geoff Neil, who voted in opposition of the heritage overlay proposal, said the risk of flooding could not be ignored.
“My biggest concern is about the 26 odd residents there on the other side of the road… they’re going to get flooded out if we raise the bridge or build over the current structure,” Cr Neil said.
