Destruction of bushland at Grantville

 It’s strange how some people can’t see the wood for the trees when it comes environmental issues. In Bass Coast Shire, a  handful of noisy people shrieked about demolishing a few dying trees to allow a road widening scheme for a sand extraction site which had already been granted a permit – yet they have not raised a squeak about cutting down and setting fire to native vegetation and habitat trees in Stanley Road. It is part of the bushland corridor and far more significant than the few trees on the north side of Stanley Road, adjoining cleared farmland which have been the subject of ravings by supporters of Save Westernport Woodlands. That vegetation has little habitat value compared with the senseless destruction of healthy trees and wildlife just undertaken. The State Government's Forest Fire Management has just completed the first burn, but a total of 22 hectares of the bushland is being targetted. It would have been better for activists to concentrate on maintaining the continuity and integrity of the woodland. Even the Shire has been hoodwinked into supporting this nonsense.It’s  hard coming to terms with the senseless destruction of bushland at Stanley Road, Grantville by firelighters from Forest Fire Management, assisted by Neil Rankine, guru of Save Westernport Woodlands. This example of their handiwork demonstrates that they have no respect for or understanding of native vegetation and wildlife. It also shows the absurdity of Mr Rankine’s objection to the removal of a handful of dying trees to make Stanley Road safer for residents. He clearly has a secret agenda which he refuses to share.