policy 046 – Removal of Street and Nature Strip Trees policy 046

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REMOVAL OF STREET AND NATURE STRIP TREES

PURPOSE

To establish and maintain policies to provide appropriate criteria to assess requests for the effective removal of street and nature strip trees in commercial and public park and recreation and urban and rural-residential zones. It is not intended to apply to trees on private property or reserves.

Trees are provided in public places such as road reserves, parks in urban and rural residential areas to enhance the environment in which we live, supporting Council’s vision of providing sustainable liveable communities.

The Campaspe Shire Council recognises that street trees are valuable community assets that positively impact the amenity and wellbeing of the Campaspe community. Trees are the most significant form of vegetation used in the urban landscape. They benefit residents, commuters and visitors visually, emotionally and physically by defining and softening streetscapes, trees also provide shade and protection to pedestrians and infrastructure. Trees take considerable effort, cost and time to establish. They should not be removed without significant justification.

SCOPE

This policy relates to the removal of trees under the care control and management of the Campaspe Shire Council.

This policy details the assessment criteria process for considering and dealing with tree removal requests.

POLICY STATEMENT

1. Application for tree removal

a. All requests must be made to council for removal of nature strip trees, which are not wanted outside a property. Requests must be in writing, from the property owner. Such written application shall state the reasons for requesting removal of the tree/s.

b. Verification of the request being from the property owner will be carried out by Council Officers prior to the request proceeding to the assessment stage.

c. All other requests for removal of street, nature strip or other trees in the general community area, for reasons of:

Public safety;

Intersection visibility;

Infrastructure damage;

Aggravation of a medical condition;

will be accepted by phone or in person and logged onto Council’s Customer Service Request system.

d. For trees of special significance to the local community, separate consultation will be carried out by Council to advise the community of any proposal to remove trees and if required a planning application will be made.

e. In order to ensure that Council preserves its significant tree assets, it is important that an assessment is carried out by a qualified Arboricultural Officer.

f. A removal assessment will be carried out by a qualified Arboricultural Officer and will assess the request against the following criteria:

Is it severely diseased or pest affected?

Does it have significant rot, dieback or collar stress?

Is it dead?

COUNCIL POLICY NUMBER 046

Date Adopted 20 March 2018

Scheduled for review November 2018

policy 046 – Removal of Street and Nature Strip Trees policy 046

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Does it exhibit poor structural condition?

Is it a poor specimen or unsuitable species?

Does it pose a significant safety hazard to the public?

Is there poor alignment in line with insufficient sight lines?

Is there poor ground stability?

Is it causing unmanageable damage to infrastructure, such as; paths, underground services, buildings or overhead services.

Based upon this assessment the Arboricultural Officer will determine if the tree should be recommended for removal. Should concern exist as to the recommendation then the matter will be escalated for consideration by the Parks and Gardens Co-Ordinator in consultation with the Public Environments Manager.

2. Insufficient reasons to justify tree removal

The following criteria, on their own, shall not provide sufficient reason for tree removal:

a. Leaf litter or debris;

b. Aesthetic value;

c. Size of the tree;

d. Poor soil conditions;

e. Improving or creating a view;

f. Shadowing or shading of properties or installed infrastructure Eg: Solar Panels.

Where shadowing or shading is assessed to be occurring between the hours of 10am – 5pm, the Arboricultural Officer has the discretion to approve the thinning of foliage and or reducing of the canopy size to reduce the impacts of the shading, with the costs for the works to be met by the property owner.

3. Assessment outcomes

If a tree is to remain after assessment formal notification by way of letter will be sent to the property owners advising that the tree did not meet the criteria for removal. .

If it is established that the tree removal request meets the relevant criteria, the following process shall apply:

a. Relevant Planning Approval shall be obtained by the qualified Arboricultural Officer (when required), e.g. heritage area controls;

b. Formal notification is to be provided to the owner and/or occupier, i.e. letter;

c. The tree and stump will be programmed for removal;

d. The nature strip shall be reinstated after the tree is removed;

4. Replacement of removed trees

Upon removal of any nature strip tree an appropriate replacement species of tree will be programmed and put on the list for the annual tree planting program. This will be in line with the requirements of Policy 106 – Request for New or Replacement Street Tree and Council’s Approved Tree List.

Any street tree that is removed by Council will be replaced with an appropriate replacement species in either the same or another nearby appropriate location.

5. Forms

Forms to be used with this policy are:

Application for removal of Street or Nature strip Tree.

EXCLUSIONS

This policy is not intended to apply to trees on private property or reserves.

Integrated Management Framework

APPLICATION FOR REMOVAL OF A STREET OR NATURESTRIP TREE

Rev No: 006 Date: 28/03/2013

The only controlled copy of this document is that found on the Shire Network. Printed copies of this document are current at the time of printing.

SECTION A Customer to complete Section A then return to any Customer Service Centre or post it to

Public Works Department, Shire of Campaspe, PO Box 35, Echuca Vic 3564

Property Owner/s

Property Address

Tree Species

Reason for Removal Request

Date

Signature of Applicant

If this application is in relation to a request which has been previously logged on Councils Dataworks system, please provide the request number: __________________

SECTION B

Upon inspection, the following criteria apply to this specific location: (Arboriculture Officer to complete)

YES NO COMMENTS

Severely diseased or pest-infected

Significant rot, dieback or collar stress

Dead

Poor structural condition

Limb damage / split trunk

Poor or unsuitable species

Poses a significant safety hazard to the public

Intersection visibility

Species on Approved Street Tree List

Poor ground stability

Significant damage to infrastructure

- Paths

- Underground services

- Overhead services

Soil Condition

Excessive canopy overhang

Based on the above, the following actions are proposed:

YES NO COMMENTS

Tree to be removed Contractor Tree Crew (please circle)

Stump to be placed on grinding program

Tree maintenance to be carried out

Priority Low Medium High (please circle)

No action required Authorised by Arboriculture Officer:

Signature

Name

Date of Inspection