Felling of Mt Macedon snow gums leaves conservationists aghast
This week Earth Matters travels to a mountain peak in Central Victoria where the State government has destroyed almost a hectare of fragile snow gums. Nature lovers and conservation advocates are devastated and confused.
The snow gums were part of a montane woodland that had regenerated over the course of forty-years since the catastrophic Ash Wednesday fires razed the area in 1983. They are located on Wurundjeri Country in the autumnal wonderland of Mount Macedon, an hour outside Melbourne.
The snow gums are treasured not only for their high ecological value but because they are one of only three remaining snow gum communities in Western and Central Victoria.
They were removed to make way for a controversial view from the Mt Macedon Memorial Cross despite the local Council having rejected the proposal three years earlier.
We talk to the campaigners who were at the mountain in the leadup to the felling to understand more.
Speakers:
Ben Gill, Victorian National Parks Association
Anna Langford, Friends of the Earth Melbourne
Kate Lawrence, Macedon and Mt Macedon Landcare
Cam Walker, Friends of the Earth Melbourne
Additional audio production: Tessa Campisi
Vigil audio: Kate Lawrence
Photo: Friends of the Earth
Campaigns and references
https://themountainjournal.com/2025/08/21/protect-macedons-rare-snow-gum
https://vnpa.org.au/save-the-snow-gums/
https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/save_mt_macedon_snow_gums
https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/snow_gum_summit_declaration_2026
https://us13.campaign-archive.com/?u=5e12186049bebef650f31b237&id=dc9eff...
https://www.trustadvocate.org.au/heritage-misused-to-justify-tree-remova...
Bec Horridge, Claudia Craig, Mia Audrey & Keiran Stewart-Assheton.
