ARCC Avenues of Honour to get some TLC

Avenues of Honour across Ararat Rural City Council will get some tender loving care after a specialist’s report recommended a series of actions to maintain their health and improve safety for motorists and the community.

Ararat Rural City Council CEO Dr Tim Harrison said the report covered Avenues of Honour in Buangor, Elmhurst, Tatyoon, Maroona and Moyston, and suggested ways to improve tree health with recommendations on branch trimming and tree removal.

Dr Harrison said one of the more urgent actions the report recommended was the removal of a dangerous tree in the Moyston Avenue of Honour.

“This tree will be removed by Council in early February and replaced with a mature pine in Autumn when the weather is cooler and we have optimal planting conditions,” he said.

“The Moyston community has been informed of the removal and while it is sad we need to do so, removing the tree and replacing it is necessary due to safety concerns.

“Our Avenues of Honour are an incredibly important part of our heritage and the Council is committed to ensuring we preserve these precious memorials.”

The Moyston tree removal is scheduled for early February, weather permitting. Minor traffic management such as speed restrictions will be in place while the work is being done.

The Council will undertake other report recommendations over the coming months and will ensure the community is kept up-to-date on what is happening.

Dr Harrison said another issue with the Moyston Avenue of Honour that had arisen over the Christmas period was the theft of a pine tree from the row of trees.

“To steal a tree from an Avenue of Honour is a really low act, and we were really upset to hear about this. Council will replace the stolen tree as soon as we can to ensure the Avenue is complete again.”