Prominent botanist and academic, Dr Greg Moore OAM has called for the Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D'Ambrosio, to vote for common sense and ensure Victoria's environment is secured for the future by adding $1 billion in tree canopy.
The Victorian Government is seeking to overturn the overwhelming recommendation of a highly credentialled expert committee which wants to reduce unnecessary tree pruning around power lines in Victoria.
Dr Greg Moore said:
"This is bureaucracy gone mad with a legitimate, sensible and safe proposal being overturned despite the overwhelming recommendation of the committee established to provide expert advice on this matter.
"My concern is that between 500 and 1,000 Victorian lives could be lost in a single heatwave event due to reduced tree canopy. In addition there are enormous environmental benefits that will be lost for future generations of Victorians due to one poor decision.
"The Government is seeking not only to ignore the umpires' decision but is seeking to ban the umpire from all future games by trying to shut down the committee completely and entrench existing policy for the next 10 years.
"The facts are in complete contrast with the Government's spin. What the Government proposes is not safer. It actually increases safety risks and its line about preferring gradual change does not square up with the facts.
"We call on the Victorian Government to show the evidence in support of its position.
"As a community we cannot afford to trash Victoria's urban environmental future and lose the health and economic benefits that increased tree canopy brings to us all," he said.
A website has been set up
