Just lately it feels as if the neighbourhood’s being trashed.

Firstly it was the pine plantation that succumbed to an industrial harvest. But that’s the nature of plantations – you know they’re going to be harvested some day – and the removal of pines isn’t as bad as the removal of a tract of bush. Nevertheless, it’s left a gaping wound on the landscape.

Secondly, and much worse than that, was the removal of old eucalypts on private land.

A former Department of Sustainability native vegetation consultant, who lives in the neighbourhood, stated that seven of the trees felled were more than 100 years old.

The owner removed the trees to make space for a new fence. A fence? The space left by the destruction is large enough to put in a four-lane highway.

Justifiably, locals are angry but the fact is that the removal of large old trees on private land is legal.

A report in our local paper stated, ‘Last month the Department of Planning and Community Development introduced legislation that allows the “removal, destruction and lopping of vegetation” to construct a boundary fence or to maintain an existing boundary fence for a combined clearance distance of four metres.’

We don’t know whether the land-owner knows or cares about the importance of old growth trees in sustaining a variety of wildlife. The hollows of large old trees provide vital habitat for rosellas, owls, and cockatoos, and for possums, bats, sugar gliders and koalas.

A small hollow in a eucalypt takes about 100 years to form. A medium-sized hollow forms in 200 years and a very large hollow – such as those necessary for the survival of cockatoos and owls – takes even longer.

Some trees with hollows pre-date the First Fleet’s arrival at Port Jackson. They’ve provided birds and animals with habitat for hundreds of years.

Last year, when another landowner in the neighbourhood built a fence, large old Manna and Peppermint Gums were saved. The community is now asking, if one could do it, why not the other?

Between March and September, the female Red Tail Black Cockatoo searches for hollows in dead trees to ascertain the one in which she will lay her solitary egg. Because many farmers see no value in having dead trees on their land, loss of habitat has endangered the bird’s survival.

In an attempt to save the endangered Red Tail Black Cockatoo from extinction, in 2000 the Victorian State Government banned property owners in Victoria’s West Wimmera from removing dead trees from their land. Whether the move was timely or too late,  remains to be seen.

To see a list of all the birds, animals and aquatic creatures who depend on tree hollows for shelter or survival in Victoria, go to the Department of Primary Industries website and have a look at the PDF document. You might be surprised. I was.