News

Fantastic meeting out side Daniela De Martinos Belgrave office to show the public want an end to logging or any other form of alteration to Dandenong Ranges National Park.

Over 50+ people turned out to gather on the site of #loophole logging in Olinda, the Dandenong Ranges National Park today 🌳 we, the people say NO more logging mature trees at the storm damage site - natural regeneration was occurring quite nicely, but #FFMV had to come along and level the area once again #DEECA

SDL strongly supports both the Draft Heritage Strategy and the Draft Heritage Policy guiding principles, its overview of Council’s role in heritage, and alignment with Heritage Victoria’s Municipal Heritage Strategies guidance and The First Peoples’ Ways of Knowing, Being and Doing framework.
We strongly endorse the inclusion of traditional and evolving perspectives on natural environmental heritage and the recognition that heritage encompasses First Peoples’ cultural heritage, European and post-contact heritage, natural heritage, cultural landscapes, and intangible heritage including stories, traditions, and community memory.
We believe council needs to provide the necessary resources to ensure the Strategy’s effective implementation, ongoing review, and transparent reporting to the community.

At a time where social values are being constantly challenged it is no shock that the natural environment also suffers the consequences.
The dumping of 400,000 cubic meters of fill material in the Lysterfield Valley has been waiting since September for VCAT to issue a final decision. The community and Yarra Ranges Council have strongly opposed the proposal.
The Lysterfield Valley has been a battle ground of contested values, matching environmental land protection against city development.

We were saddened to hear before Christmas of the passing of Ross Whitford.
A resident of Monbulk for many years, he was an artist and an environmentalist, and a member of Sherbrooke Lyrebird Study Group as well as Save the Dandenongs League.

SDL Inc. works in close alliance with Yarra Ranges Heritage Group YRHN. This is SDL's report to the YRHN - 14th February 2026 as prepared by Carolyn Ebdon, Secretary SDL Inc.

Ross Whitford passed away peacefully on December 1st, 2025 aged 85. He was a long term member of Save the Dandenongs League and the Sherbrooke Lyrebird Study Group.

The Save the Dandenongs League celebrated its 75th anniversary on Saturday, 11 October, marking more than seven decades of dedicated environmental protection in the Dandenong Ranges. See Ranges Trader Article

SDL Inc and friends paid tribute to Betty Marsden OAM yesterday May 29th 2025, being the anniversary of her passing last year. A tree of recognition Acacia dealbata ( Blackwood ) was provided by SDCN Inc. and planted in the bank next to the Education Centre at Birdsland. Here are photos provided by members of the SDCN inc.

It’s sad how early settlers and people right up to today see trees as a resource that needs to be harvested.

The worlds tallest trees the mountain ash that once stood in Gippsland Victoria, taller than the current tallest tree the Canadian redwoods.

Yet thanks to our backwards thinking Government in early 1900s offering a 20 pound reward to anyone who felled a tree taller than 100 Metres in height, they were all obliterated ! FB:NutsAboutGums

It was great to be involved in Kallista's Centenary Celebrations. SDL had a marquis stall at the Festival which we shared with the National Trust DR branch.
Many festival attendees stopped by to talk to us and find out about League activities and history. We were able to hand out membership information and as a result signed up a number of new members.

Betty's extensive achievements and accomplishments were celebrated at a memorial event held on Sunday 13th October at Karwarra Gardens Meeting Room.
The League Committee organised everything very well and approx 25 of Betty's closest friends and associates attended. Several people shared their recollections of Betty and paid tribute to her many strengths, highlighting her ability to achieve positive outcomes in so many different sectors covering environment, heritage, town planning etc.