Black Hill community up in arms by decision to remove historic trees behind Black Hill Swimming Pool
Members of the Black Hill community have spoken out after the City of Ballarat flagged removing historic trees near the Black Hill Swimming Pool.
PRESERVE: Some of the trees behind the Black Hill Swimming Pool.
Community member Brent Webb has launched a petition on Change.org calling for council to reconsider the value of the stand of pine trees he believes dates back more than a century.
Mr Webb says more than 250 trees at the prominent location are "strong, upright and healthy" and are an invaluable asset to the Ballarat community.
A City of Ballarat spokesperson said they were aware of the petition, which has amassed over 200 signatures by the time of publication with the goal of 500 signatures but did not make any further comment.
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A staff member from Black Hill Kindergarten, which is less than a kilometre from the swimming pool and trees, said they had not heard of any decision to remove the trees and would be disappointed if they were removed.
"It's a bit disappointing to hear the trees could be removed," the staff member said.
"We head out to that area a lot for excursions, obviously not this year but in the past. We definitely use the space and we definitely use the resources from the trees, whether it be for crafts or simply as an imaginary space."
Upon hearing about the petition, the staff member said they are "definitely" in support of it.
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In the petition, Mr Webb says the trees "represent some of the tallest and healthiest of the original historic planting by school children in the 1910s and onwards for the "beautification of the locality."
Mr Webb goes on to list the important role the trees play in the community, such as providing a picturesque backdrop to Black Hill Pool and local residents, an important wildlife habitat and providing shade to the Black Hill Pool during late afternoon which is the hottest part of the day.
The petition is not calling for all plans for the removal of the trees to be scrapped, rather requesting that no works begin until community consultation has been conducted.
Over the four days the petition has been active, community members from around Ballarat have left their messages of support for the Mr Webb's cause.
"These trees are a vital environmental and cultural part of the Black Hill area," Brooke Fiddaman said.
"They MUST be preserved! Community consultation needs to occur in order to find an alternative to completing removing them."
"These beautiful trees are right opposite my house," Stephanie Cooper added.
"My children love playing hide and seek there. They are a beautiful feature of Black Hill and deserve to be protected."
"Living across the road from these trees makes me feel happy," Gavin Morris continued.
"They can't cut these trees down, it just isn't fair.
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