No notice was given to the community of the amendment.
Anne Kilpatrick,of volunteer organisation Glen Eira Historical Society,said the elm trees were more than 100 years old and majestic in their own right,as well as being a significant part of the history of the area.
Plans for the redevelopment of Caulfield Racecourse with night racing,walking and cycling trails,restaurants and affordable housing.
“We are very concerned about this major threat to history and heritage of the racecourse,which has been assessed as being of state significance,although,until now,no one seems to have sought state heritage protection for it,” she said. “It currently has no heritage protection.”
Andrew Paxton,general manager of the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust,said the trust was not consulted on the planning scheme amendment.
Glen Eira City councillor David Zyngier was frustrated that Mr Wynne had over-ridden the council’s heritage classification of the Caulfield Public Reserve and Racecourse.
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“Taking the approval process out of the hands of the appropriate local planning authority[the council] will put greed before heritage,and remove any public participation in what is,or could be,an incredible community asset,” he said.
A spokesman for the Melbourne Racing Club said the trees were being removed so that work could start on the Caulfield Masterplan,which was first announced in 2019.
“As part of the works,some of the 66 trees on site will be removed or relocated,” he said. “Seventy-three new trees will be planted as part of the upgrade work,which includes access and public realm improvements for users of the reserve.”
The spokesman would not say how many trees were being removed rather than relocated,but said the completed masterplan would provide a net gain of 31 trees on site.
A spokeswoman for the Victorian government said after the trees were removed at Caulfield Racecourse,Heritage Victoria received a nomination for an interim protection order for the precinct.
“It is currently considering this nomination,” the spokeswoman said. “Under the Heritage Act,anyone can nominate an area or object to the Heritage Register. The matter is then independently assessed by the Heritage Council,” she said.
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