LIGHTS: as on 3AW Radio

Wed 4th Feb 2009
A link to the leader.
Read the comments too.

http://lilydale-yarra-valley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/traffic-lights-out-as-council-puts-tree-first-in-coldstream/



Tue 3rd Feb 2009



Below is a transcript of what was said on Melbourne radio today, 3AW with Ross and John.
Transcript 1
Ross Stevenson and John Burns


Item:
Regular Segment: Rumour File -
Caller -Talking Tree says the Shire of Yarra Ranges councillors have prevented a dangerous intersection in country Victoria from being upgraded as a tree would have to be removed, despite VicRoads offering to replace it.


Interviewees: Caller Talking Tree


ROSS STEVENSON: And Talking Tree, we'll make you last.


CALLER: Morning. A bunch of tree-hugging leftie councillors have yet again stopped a major upgrade for a dangerous intersection in country Victoria because one lousy tree would have to be taken out.
One of these sheilas in the shire's - get this - tree taskforce, reckons the tree says hello to visitors. Even though VicRoads have offered to put in 70 replacements trees, the intersection can't be upgraded.
JOHN BURNS: Which particular council are we talking about, Talking Tree, that's full of sheilas and tree-hugging, greenie lefties?
CALLER: Shire of Yarra Ranges.
ROSS STEVENSON: Thank you, and where's the tree? I want to go and talk - have this tree talk to me.
CALLER: Well, it says hello to visitors, Ross, and it's at the corner of the Melba and Maroondah highways.
ROSS STEVENSON: In fact, we've had a reporter out on the scene, Talking Tree, would you like to say hello to the tree?
SOUND EFFECT: Hello.
JOHN BURNS: [Laughs] Prince Charles is the most famous person, he talks to animals - talks to plants.
ROSS STEVENSON: Talks to plants, yes.
JOHN BURNS: Are you familiar with that intersection that our last rumour filer was talking about, Talking Tree, which one, the corner of the Melba and Maroondah highway?
ROSS STEVENSON: Is that not where Dame Nellie Melba has a house?
JOHN BURNS: That's where her house was. Sorry, yeah.
ROSS STEVENSON: You turn left to go to Mount Buller.
JOHN BURNS: That's right.
* * End *



INTERVIEW 2

Ross Stevenson says there is an intersection upgrade at a local shire that is being stopped due to the presence of a gum tree. Stevenson introduces Mario Galteri, owner, Coldstream Timber and Hardware. Galteri says the tree is right in the middle of the proposed intersection upgrade and it will probably fix a lot of safety issues and traffic issues if the intersection went ahead.
Interviewees: Mario Galteri, Owner, Coldstream Timber and Hardware


ROSS STEVENSON: The Rumour File this morning told us that up Coldstream way, that the local shire - that there was an intersection upgrade that is being stopped due to the presence of a gum tree that reportedly spoke to local councillors. I don't know whether that's a fact or not, but the Local Council does not want the tree cut down, which means that the intersection cannot be upgraded.
Mario Galteri is one of the owners of Coldstream Timber and Hardware, good morning, Mario.


MARIO GALTERI: Good morning, Ross.


ROSS STEVENSON: This is the intersection over the Maroondah Highway and the Melba Highway...


MARIO GALTERI: It is, yes.


ROSS STEVENSON: ...which contains the house once occupied by Dame Nellie Melba, does it not?


MARIO GALTERI: The house is still there, but she's not there.


ROSS STEVENSON: No. Tell us about what's planned for the intersection, and what role the tree plays.


MARIO GALTERI: Well the tree's right in the middle of the proposed intersection upgrade, the intersection is probably going to fix up a lot of safety issues, it's going to fix up a lot of traffic issues, even getting out of Coldstream Timber and Hardware on a Friday afternoon, when everybody's going off holidaying, it takes about five minutes to get out of the driveway.
The CFA have been asking for some sort of safety campaign for quite a while, we've had a number of casualties there, about 13 in the past few years, it's just a nightmare.


ROSS STEVENSON: Okay, so it needs to be upgraded, and what's the role of the tree?


MARIO GALTERI: The tree is just sitting there.


ROSS STEVENSON: What sort of tree is it?
MARIO GALTERI: It's a...


ROSS STEVENSON: Gum tree?


MARIO GALTERI: ...Southern Mahogany Gum, nothing spectacular, it's only about 20 or 30 years old, as far as I'm aware, it's in a nice position, it's a nice tree, but what comes first, safety or one gum tree?


ROSS STEVENSON: Why does the tree have to be cut down, why can't they just upgrade the intersection, and leave the tree there?


MARIO GALTERI: Well apparently if they - any other proposals will cut into other peoples' land, and all that sort of stuff.


ROSS STEVENSON: So is it the - what, is the ownership of the land the problem, or is the problem that they just want to preserve a 20-year-old Southern Mahogany Gum?


MARIO GALTERI: That's it, they just want to preserve that one tree that says hello to people as they come in, but...


ROSS STEVENSON: Who's the they, by the way, Mario?


MARIO GALTERI: They? They are four councillors. By the way, the actual council body actually proposed the highway to go through, but four councillors, and one with a casting vote, decided that no, we don't like what...


ROSS STEVENSON: That sounds to me Mario, like there's seven councillors.


MARIO GALTERI: No, there are eight, one was away, and one had a casting vote, because she was mayor at the time.


ROSS STEVENSON: What about the allegation that one of the councillors says that the tree talks to her?


MARIO GALTERI: Yeah, I thought that was a bit strange, but she's a greenie, she's part of the Green Party.


ROSS STEVENSON: Okay. Good news is that Chainsaw Bob is about to come into the studio [laughs]. We'll see whether he has a view on the 20-year-old Southern Mahogany Gum, at the intersection of the Maroondah Highway.
Anyone with a view on the subject, 96 900 693, come and join us. Mario, thanks for your time.


MARIO GALTERI: Not a problem, love your show.


ROSS STEVENSON: Good on you, Mario.




INTERVIEW3

Caller Tom says the shire of Yarra Ranges is the most inept council in Victoria when it comes to trees and they do not follow their own planning scheme.
Interviewees: Caller Tom


ROSS STEVENSON: We welcome now from The Daily Tom, Tom has a 10 second editorial on the tree. Go, Tom.

CALLER TOM: This is just the Shire of Yarra Ranges, through and through the most inept council in Victoria when it comes to issues like this. They have a planning scheme that they don't follow themselves and they put trees before building developments.

ROSS STEVENSON: And almost exactly 10 seconds, Tom, beautifully expressed.