The City of Stirling has released for public comment a draft amendment which will attempt to protect trees on development sites (see below). Closes 5th of July, please have your say.
A simple letter or email (attention CEO) is all that is required. Just state what you would like to see happen if you don’t have time to read through the information below and tackle a more detail submission. Bullet points are probably best anyway.
Please encourage others to have their say too and send copies to Councillors and your Local Members of Parliament as well. Find all of their contact details here.
Anyone can comment, especially those who work, shop in and visit the City of Stirling. Perhaps some would like them to build around the trees on the Scarborough Beach foreshore or to save some of the trees around the Karrinyup Shopping Centre redevelopment?
Why this is an important public health issue
About this amendment proposal
Time-line to 2030
New vs. mature trees
Some other points to consider
- Option 1 was to do nothing
- Option 2, was this draft plan
- Option 3 to “Retain, Plant or Cash-in-lieu”. Developers could choose to remove trees and pay for new trees to be planted on Council land.
- Option 4 a “comprehensive” tree protection policy, but with a catch;
Councillor were told that this plan would be very expensive, because it would require setting up a Significant Tree Register, which would cost around $500,000 and require 2 new staff member to manage it?
But this is 1970’s thinking. With modern remote sensing and data management software, officers can easily zoom in and see exactly what size trees are, where they are and how many there are. The days of sending someone out to physically measure the girth of a tree and manually record all of its details are long gone. Similar information and much more can all be acquired for a fraction of this price, using aerial and satellite imaging and thermal sensing, that is regularly recorded and already available. The City of Stirling already purchase this type of data every year, that is how they know how bad the situation is.
As Councillors are careful about spending rate payer’s money, the Significant Tree Register cost was a contributing factor in some of them opposing this option.
2. The whole point of making this amendment is to help the City of Stirling reach its target of 18% tree canopy cover by 2030. However, it is difficult to imagine that many developers would choose voluntarily to retain existing trees and put in the time and effort to work out solutions to build around them and replacing mature trees with new saplings will do little to slow canopy loss, if anything?
- subdividing their nest eggs,
- building granny flats,
- extending existing houses or buildings,
- demolishing old houses to replace them with new ones.
- Give awards for great designs that incorporate existing trees, on single residential, commercial and on multi-site developments.
- Provide information about tree health and pruning. Many trees don’t actually need pruning to make them safe. In fact, excessive pruning by cowboy tree loppers can kill trees and make new branches weaker. Excessive pruning is major problem, as it also reduces the urban canopy.
- Make the pubic aware about the need to use properly accredited tree care and agricultural consultants.
- Provide information on how to select appropriate species for different locations and how to plant them and raise them.
- Suggest ideas on how to build around existing trees.
12. The City of Stirling is Perth’s largest council, what is decided here will influence other councils, so it is imperative that we all do our best to supersede the council to do provide proper protection for our remaining trees. So please encourage anyone you can to have their say and send copies to Councillors and Local Members of Parliament as well, find all of their contact details here.
Open for Public Comment
Planning and Development Act 2005
TOWN PLANNING SCHEME AMENDMENT
Trees and Development
Local Planning Scheme No.3 Amendment No.9
Notice is hereby given that the City of Stirling has prepared Scheme Amendment No.9 for the purpose of encouraging the retention of trees on development sites and requiring, where trees are not retained, applicants to plant new trees on-site and on verges to off-set their removal.
Local Planning Policy 6.11 – Trees and Development
The City also proposes to introduce a new Local Planning Policy to support Scheme Amendment No. 9 by:
- Encourage the retention of existing significant trees;
- Requiring replacement trees to be planted on‑site at a ratio of one tree per 500m² of site area;
- Requiring applicants to pay the cost of providing trees within the road reserve where none exist;
- Outlining the objectives and development requirements for on‑site tree management and street trees; and
- Applying the Policy to proposed development valued at over $100,000 on privately-owned land.
Documents explaining the proposed Scheme Amendment and Policy may be viewed at the City’s offices from Tuesday, 24 May 2016 to Tuesday, 5 July 2016 between the hours of 8.30am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday. The documentation is also available for viewing on the City’s website at: www.stirling.wa.gov.au/yoursay.
Comments on the proposal must be lodged in writing to the Chief Executive Officer, City of Stirling, 25 Cedric Street, Stirling WA 6021 or to stirling@stirling.wa.gov.au on or before Tuesday 5 July 2016. Please ensure that your name and address are provided on your submission to enable it to be afforded due consideration.
Should you have any queries, please contact the City Planning Business Unit on (08) 9205 8555.
Amendment No.9 – Formal Documentation
Local Planning Policy 6.11 – Trees and Development (Draft)
This Policy must also be read in conjunction with;
Hello Leisha – is it only ratepayers in Stirling who have any right to comment? Many thanks for your tireless work for everyone’s planet.!
Hi Sue,
Anyone can comment, even if they don’t live in the City of Stirling. You may be thinking of moving to Stirling or you may work here or be a regular shopper or visitor and therefore you are a stakeholder.
You do have to include your full name and address in the letter or email.
Cheers Leisha