The Doreen community is urging VicRoads to alter its plans for the Yan Yean Road upgrade to save two ancient river red gums.
The trees will be cut down to make way for the second stage of the Yan Yean Road upgrade, with VicRoads planning to widen the road to the east.
The former Doreen post office, which was built in 1895, is also in the path of the widened road.
The community is calling for VicRoads to widen the road to the west to save the trees and the post office building.
The trees are on property owned by the Yeomans family.
An online petition started by Sherrie Yeomans earlier this month has been signed by more than 1700 people, while more than 550 people have signed hard copies of the petition.
Ms Yeomans said an arborist and local Wurundjeri people believed the trees to be 400 and 500 years old, placing them among the oldest gum trees in Victoria.
“These trees are well-known local landmarks,” she said.
“They have been a big part of my life and I don’t think VicRoads realised the true value of these trees to the community.”
Ms Yeomans said the community was not against the road being widened.
“We definitely need the road to be upgraded but we want it to take the western side. The community always believed the road would be put through on the western side to protect these trees,” she said.
Yan Yean MP Danielle Green has backed the calls, saying the trees are the “gateway to rural Doreen”. Speaking in Parliament, Ms Green said the trees were part of Doreen.
“Locals are particularly grieving about the loss of river red gums in the area after the unfortunate removal of a massive river red gum on the corner of Bridge Inn and Plenty roads to make way for a supermarket,” she said.
Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said VicRoads was keen to work with the community to minimise the impact on the environment.
The petition can be signed at www.change.org/p/save-the-doreen-red-gums
