Tree replacement as part of the Memorial Development Project

A number of trees to the front of the Australian War Memorial will be replaced as part of the Memorial Development Project. Ultimately, the Memorial will increase the total number of trees planted onsite by at least 70 overall, by the conclusion of the project.

The heritage and aesthetic values of the trees to be removed, including their role within the Anzac Parade vista, were closely considered as part of the Memorial’s Environmental Protection Biodiversity and Conservation (EPBC) Act referral and subsequent approval for the project.

The Memorial has submitted a Tree Management Plan to National Capital Authority as part of the approval process that covers the changes to trees across the site related to the project.

The replacement trees will be endemic to the area and better suited to integration with the flora and fauna on Mt Ainslie. The Memorial will also seek to work with the ACT Government to plant additional trees in the adjoining habitat.

The existing eucalypts require frequent maintenance and are increasingly subject to invasive works, such as branch removals, to ensure the safety of visitors to the Memorial site.