VicRoads said that many “locations between Traralgon and Longwarry in Gippsland involved the ‘complete removal’ of all trees within median strips between traffic lanes.” From http://www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au/story/219410/roadside-hazards-cut/

Quotes from the article, now becoming all-too-familiar around Victoria. Something must be done to rein in VicRoads’ enthusiasm for destruction of our natural heritage.

Motorists-

• were not convinced removing the trees was the best response
• asked why barriers could not instead be placed either side of the trees

• asked why VicRoads was putting up barriers to stop vehicles hitting the trees… then they remove the trees
• claimed new safety risks had emerged from a lack of screening to minimise the impact of oncoming vehicles’ high beams. They contend glare from oncoming traffic on the highway at night was now a “nightmare”
• raised environmental concerns about impact of removing so many trees and what it might mean for wildlife using the small strips of land as corridors
• claimed the project was “inherently expensive and ridiculous”, and said the vegetation had served a significant “safety function”
• suggested wire barriers, installed widely, could cause more damage than trees in the event of a collision