At their May meeting last week, Moyne Shire councillors voted to replace the Monterey Cypress trees in the avenue of honour with spotted gums.

This decision was made despite the Mortlake RSL and Heritage Victoria informing council it wanted the sick Monterey Cypress trees in the avenue of honour to be replaced with the same species.

The removal of the trees has become an issue because 21 of the 191 trees have been hit by the Cypress Canker disease.

Council has voted to engage an arborist to prepare a detailed report concerning replacement of the existing trees and make an application to Heritage Victoria for the spotted gums to be brought in as replacements. Council wants to replace all 191 Monterey Cypress trees with spotted gums.

The first tree in the avenue of honor was planted in 1919 and is a tribute to soldiers who have served. 

Mortlake RSL president Mervyn Hampson said branch members were clear on their vision for the avenue of honour.

“We are happy to have a trial and we know the bigger, older trees have got to go, but we want like for like planted,” Mr Hampson said.

“The majority of the trees in the avenue have not been affected by the Cypress Canker disease so why tear them out.

“Spotted gum is a very dangerous tree in regards to the amount of limbs that drop from them.

“Ours is a unique avenue in Australia and we would like to keep it that way.”

Mr Hampson is a volunteer curator at the Mortlake Golf Club and said he has some knowledge of the Cypress Canker disease.

“We had a few trees at the golf club that got the disease and they were dead within three or four weeks,” he said.

“We have kept a close eye on the 21 affected avenue trees and perhaps they have a milder  strain because they haven’t died that quickly.

“It might be worth having a closer look and certainly working to save the ones that haven’t been affected rather than just pull everything out.”

Mr Hampson scoffed at suggestions the trees could be scaled back to their trunks and then carved into images of soldiers in various poses.

“That’s just ridiculous, it’s disrespectful,” he said.

“We don’t just have a handful of trees here, this is a significant living memorial.”

Heritage Victoria has told council it would need to present a detailed scientific for anything other than Monterey Cypress trees to be planted as replacement trees in the avenue of honour.