Wollondilly Council seeks further feedback on Tree Policy

Late last year, Council asked the community to provide feedback on a Draft Tree Management Policy with the aim of better protecting local trees and significant vegetation as essential assets for current and future generations.

Mayor Matthew Deeth said, “In light of the recent bushfire events in our Shire we are giving the community an opportunity to provide further feedback on the policy”.

“It is important to get the balance right between preserving trees of significance within our townships and new growth areas as well as protecting safety to property and life in bushfire prone areas”.

Council is committed to making a balanced and informed document that assists in protecting valuable trees but also understands that the policy should consider the impacts of bushfire.

The policy recognises the increasing need to preserve and better manage trees, especially those with environmental, heritage, social and cultural significance, as the Shire grows.

 According to the City of Sydney’s Urban Forest Strategy, in one year a single tree can cool air similar to 10 air conditioners running constantly, absorb 3400 litres of storm water and filter 27kg of pollutants from the air.

The policy aims to maximise the preservation, protection, maintenance and management of trees, as well as protecting and conserving important biodiversity and wildlife corridors.

It also recognises the importance of tree canopy and the need to increase it throughout the Shire. Streets with a tree lined canopy have shown to have 10% increase in property values and urban heat mapping shows that heavily developed areas without tree canopy can be up to 11 degrees hotter than rural or natural environments.

The policy incorporates many of the common questions residents ask Council staff about tree management on private property and Council controlled land.

If you would like to view the policy and provide feedback, head to https://www.yoursay.wollondilly.nsw.gov.au/

The close off date for written submissions is 22 April 2020.

References

-       AECOM. (2017). Green Infrastructure, A vital step to brilliant Australian cities.

-       Sydney, C. o. (2013). Urban Forest Strategy. City of Sydney.