Residents and regular visitors to Maldon will have noticed a difference along High Street with the removal of elm suckers at the base of Anzac Hill.

According to Noel Muller from Parks Victoria, removing the elm suckers, apart from obvious aesthetic benefits, will help to control the elm leaf beetle.

"The elm leaf beetle is a real problem and can have a devastating effect on the health of the elm trees we have lining our main street here in Maldon," said Noel.

"By reducing the available habitat for the beetle we are reducing the impact it can have in the area, and thereby protecting the health of the street trees."

The suckers have come from the main street trees. They have been cut right back to ground level to stop their spread, which in this instance has been up to 10 metres from the mature trees.

"This kind of control work hasn't been done for quite a few years, so the suckers are very prolific. Now that we have cut the whole area back, it will just require ongoing attention every couple of years to maintain control."

Whilst the removal of the elm suckers is important in terms of protecting the existing street trees, it also has some historical benefits and is part of a larger plan to restore Anzac Hill to its former glory.

"Another great outcome in clearing the area is that we are uncovering some old house sites with remnant brick work and paths still visible. There also used to be a roadway running half way up the hill," said Noel.

"We are now able to view the site something like it would have appeared just after the gold rush, when the houses here were relocated to other centres such as Castlemaine. It's quite fascinating when you look at old photos from the 1850s and 1860s to see how it was."

The elm sucker removal work at the base of Anzac Hill has been undertaken as part of the North Central Catchment Management Authority's Drought Employment Program (DEP), working in conjunction with Parks Victoria.

The DEP is part of the Victorian Government's drought program and represents an investment in the Catchment area of $2.4 million. Members of the works crews are farmers and people who have been affected by the drought.

Three DEP crews from Castlemaine comprising around 15 people took part in the works and it took around two days to get the clearing done. 

According to Allison Long, North Central CMA's community and partnerships manager, it is a prime example of how the DEP crews are assisting with essential works throughout the region.

"By providing human resources and equipment through the DEP to existing projects, we are seeing real benefits to communities in the Catchment. In this instance, not only is essential pest control work being done, but there are great aesthetic benefits to the township," Allison said. 

"We are able to help maintain the health of the elm street trees, as well as open up an area of historical interest which will now be more accessible to the local community."

For further information please contact:

Communications Officer
North Central Catchment Management Authority
PO Box 18, Huntly VIC 3551
t: 03 5448 7174
f: 03 5448 7148
e: info@nccma.vic.gov.au


For further information please contact: 

Communications Officer, North Central CMA
PO Box 18, Huntly VIC 3551
t: 03 5448 7124
e: info@nccma.vic.gov.au