Felling of Mt Macedon snow gums leaves conservationists aghast

Felling of Mt Macedon snow gums leaves conservationists aghast This week Earth Matters travels to a mountain peak in Central Victoria where the State government has destroyed almost a hectare of fragile snow gums. Nature lovers and conservation advocates are devastated and confused. The snow gums were part of a montane woodland that had regenerated over the course of forty-years since the catastrophic Ash Wednesday fires razed the area in 1983. They are located on Wurundjeri Country in the autumnal wonderland of Mount Macedon, an hour outside Melbourne. The snow gums are treasured not only for their high ecological value but because they are one of only three remaining snow gum communities in Western and Central Victoria.  They were removed to make way for a controversial view from the Mt Macedon Memorial Cross despite the local Council having rejected the proposal three years earlier. We talk to the campaigners who were at the mountain in the leadup to the felling to understand more. Speakers: Ben Gill, Victorian National Parks Association Anna Langford, Friends of the Earth Melbourne  Kate Lawrence, Macedon and Mt Macedon Landcare Cam Walker, Friends of the Earth Melbourne  Additional audio production: Tessa Campisi Vigil audio: Kate Lawrence Photo: Friends of the Earth  Campaigns and references  https://themountainjournal.com/2025/08/21/protect-macedons-rare-snow-gum https://vnpa.org.au/save-the-snow-gums/ https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/save_mt_macedon_snow_gums https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/snow_gum_summit_declaration_2026 https://us13.campaign-archive.com/?u=5e12186049bebef650f31b237&id=dc9eff2531 https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/-/media/project/pv/main/parks/documents/management-plans/macedon-regional-park-strategic-management-statement-2009.pdf?rev=1c84346e8d87416ea889b94c445ce07f https://www.trustadvocate.org.au/heritage-misused-to-justify-tree-removal-at-mount-macedon-cross/