Save the Gateway Trees in Bright

04/08/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Q3udcvBc1/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Many thanks to the nearly 300 people who attended Sunday's Defending Kingston Avenue Community Rally, it was wonderful to have such positive community support for our trees and for the people they represent. Special thanks to our guest speakers, who shared a range of perspectives, but all with a respect and understanding of our Avenue. We heard moving tributes to relatives represented in the Avenue of Honour, a deep appreciation of the Avenue and the trees, concern for the welfare of future visitors to the Avenue, and a true understanding of the importance of keeping the Avenue as a living memorial into the future.

Many thanks to Terry Hope for his photo of our wonderful speakers (left to right): Julie Baulch, Caitlin Grieve, Darcy Gervasoni, Cass Rochaix, Michael Taffe, Scott Williams (MC), Ruth Ord Evans and Kain Richardson.

26/02/2026

It is with disappointment we see that one of the small trees relocated from in front of BVD to make way for the intersection has died in Howitt Park .. we do hope this tree will be replaced .. as well as a couple of gaps that existed on the GAR and a promise made to plant trees in those gaps is fine when it cools down

24/02/2026

Grab Today’s Observer ..

20/02/2026

https://engage.alpineshire.vic.gov.au/draft-street-tree-master-plan

Please take time to till out the draft tree plan .

Considerations aim to keep and increase our tree canopy cover ..as well as protect ouf significant trees

What is canopy cover
- and why do we need a target?
Put simply, canopy cover is the percentage of ground area shaded by trees. This means, if you have 20% canopy coverage in an area, that 20% is directly shaded by a tree canopy, with the remaining 80% being unshaded.
Adequate canopy coverage brings many benefits to urban areas, including:
• Increased shade, reducing the impact of urban heat island effect (it can feel 5 -
14 degrees cooler in the shade!)
• Local air quality improvements
• Supporting biodiversity
• Improved stormwater management
• Increased wellbeing and social benefit
• Traffic calming
Current best practice targets for urban canopy cover sit between 30% and 40%. Targets for private property are currently stipulated in the Alpine Planning Scheme. This work looks to fill the gap to provide a municipal-wide approach to canopy coverage.

Help us proactively manage and conserve our iconic living assets.

18/02/2026

Bright's Gateway Protection Group - Press Release
19th February 2026
Bright's Gateway Protection Group wish to thank our extended Alpine community for supporting the campaign to save the Gateway Trees at the entrance to Bright. Without your generous support, we could not have advocated so relentlessly for the new local heritage overlay which aims to protect our trees.

We wish to remind the community that a local heritage overlay is no guarantee of protection for the future of these magnificent trees. Subsequent development projects may still apply to have these trees, and other trees in our region with immense value, cut down.
The local heritage overlay only requires that the heritage value of the trees be "considered" in any future planning applications. The responsible authority may still grant permission to cut down more of our trees, if they see the need.
That is why we have nominated the Gateway Trees and the other significant avenues in Bright to be included on the Victorian Heritage Register.

We hope that a Victorian State level listing will be enough to deter future trees from being considered for destruction. We were delighted to learn that our nomination was accepted in April 2024.
We welcome and encourage the Alpine Shire Council to officially acknowledge the acceptance of our Heritage Victoria nomination at an upcoming council meeting. We advocate to include reference to this state level nomination in any relevant policy regarding significant landscapes.

To date, we are one of the only places in Victoria with so many of our beautiful avenues of trees accepted for nomination for State Heritage inclusion. These avenues include the trees on Gavin St, the tree avenue in Delany Avenue , at the eastern entrance to Bright, the trees of Burke St, Wood St, Anderson St, Ireland St. and Railway Ave in Bright. This is a momentous achievement.

As volunteers, we have worked tirelessly to ensure that the spectacular streetscapes of Bright are conserved. Recollections may vary regarding the degree that that this has been a
"truly positive example of the community and the council working together"
, as was reported in the
Alpine Observer Newspaper on Wednesday 18th February.
Again, we sincerely thank the community for their contributions, encouragement and well-wishes.

15/02/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1NE3SySU7y/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Some good news ❤️

The Minister for Planning has approved Amendment C56alpi to the Alpine Planning Scheme. 🌳✅

This means that a Heritage Overlay will be applied to the avenue of trees on the Great Alpine Road at the western gateway to Bright.

The Heritage Overlay recognises that the avenue of trees has historical, representative, and social significance to Bright and many of its residents and visitors.

This will ensure that any proposed works must now consider the significance of the avenue.

The Amendment came into operation on Wednesday, 11 February 2026.

For more information, visit https://www.alpineshire.vic.gov.au/news/heritage-overlay-applied-avenue-trees-along-great-alpine-road

05/08/2025

Yes, pine trees are significant in Bright, both historically and culturally, due to their role in the town's development and their current presence in the landscape. Specifically, they are associated with the town's transition from mining to forestry and tourism, and their presence contributes to the town's aesthetic appeal and recreational opportunities.
Here's why pine trees are significant in Bright:
Historical Significance:
Pine plantations were established in the Ovens Valley, including near Bright, to stabilize land that had been damaged by gold mining and to support the forestry industry. This marked a shift from mining to forestry as a key economic activity.
Aesthetic Value:
The pine trees contribute to Bright's scenic beauty, particularly during autumn when the foliage changes colour on european trees …They are part of the town's identity and are appreciated by residents and visitors alike.
Recreational Opportunities:
The pine plantations provide spaces for recreation, including walking, running, and riding.

Tourism:
Bright's picturesque scenery, including the pine trees, plays a role in attracting tourism
Economic Importance:
Pine plantations, managed by organizations like HVP Plantations, are a source of timber and support jobs in the local area…

But here we are …

07/06/2025

The national Trust Australia (Victoria Branch) have congratulated us on our successful advocacy for a local Heritage Overlay for our Gateway Trees! They write:
"We did note and celebrate the news articles this week regarding the proposed Heritage Overlay of some of the Gateway trees."
We thank the National Trust for their continued support of our campaign and their important ongoing heritage work.

03/06/2025

Another lovely tree story. Such a good outcome

02/06/2025