Powercor contractors heavily pruned Ballarat's WWI memorial trees without approval
Three memorial trees honor World War I nurses in Ballarat. Powercor contractors pruned them heavily without council approval. One tree died.
Powercor contractors pruned three trees beneath power lines on Avenue of Honour in Ballarat without the City of Ballarat's approval or knowledge. One tree is confirmed dead.
Two others are severely damaged. The trees honor three nurses from World War I: Gertrude Munro, Bessie Thompson and Bertha Peady.
All three trees now have drastically reduced canopies. Only thin branches remain.
Powercor's head of vegetation management acknowledged the work did not meet the company's processes or standards. The council is responsible for maintaining the trees under an arrangement with Powercor.
One tree must be removed and replaced. The other two need assessment.
Hospital Trained Nurses League vice president Sarah Birtles said it was very disappointing. Munro had only been trained a couple of years when she went to serve.
The Arch of Victory Avenue of Honour Committee called the work a desecration of the memory of the nurses.
- Three memorial trees
- Trees affected
- Avenue of Honour, Ballarat
- Location
- One dead, two severely damaged
- Outcome
Why it mattersHeritage trees protect the memory of those who served in war. These trees are irreplaceable and deserve protection from utility companies.
AustraliaBallarat's heritage is diminished by the loss of memorial trees, and the incident raises concerns about utility company oversight on protected cultural sites across Australia.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 d ago
