A contractor hired to remove dangerous trees at Daylesford Speedway has cut down extra trees without approval.
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Hepburn Shire Council general management infrastructure Bruce Lucas said floods at the site had made many trees a danger to the community.
“The works completed aimed to minimise the risks of serious injury or death of patrons and reduce the risk of further flood damage at the site,” Mr Lucas said.
“The contractor was engaged to complete very specific works. Unfortunately, a small number of additional trees were removed in another part of the reserve. Council is currently pursuing enforcement action under council planning provisions.”
Council understands there were less than 10 trees removed without approval, but cannot determine the exact number. The trees removed were a mix of different species.
Daylesford Speedway president Casey Bandy said the association would be replanting native trees at the site after Anzac Day next year and would dedicate them to returned service men.
It is planned the new trees will be planted on the north-east side of the track to help recreate a sound barrier where pine trees were removed.
Further to the removal of unsafe trees, other flood recovery works have been underway at the speedway.
Improvement to drainage and resurfacing of the track is being completed in the hope of preventing further flooding issues.
Mr Bandy said the works would make the track a safer place for every race meet.
“It will be a better environment for divers and families to come to,” Mr Bandy said recently.
“A lot of landscaping is being done to direct water away from the track.
“We have a strong team of people that will be putting their all in over the next few weeks to get it ready for the start of the season.”
The Daylesford Speedway race season starts on November 26.