Background

Our Street Tree Strategy helps protect and increase our street tree canopy across Monash. This is something we know is very important to our residents because of the role it plays in cooling, shading and beautifying our streets.

We are inviting residents of Margaret Street to let us know what type of tree you'd like to see us plant in your street.

Click 'Follow' at the top of this page to receive updates on the project, including the results of voting.

Why does Council identify trees for removal?

When assessing a street as part of our Street Tree Strategy, we flag trees for removal that are dead, dying (assessed as having less than five years useful life), diseased or dangerous (pose an inappropriate level of risk to people or assets that cannot be reasonably be managed).

These trees are then replaced where appropriate and we also look for other opportunities to plant trees on the street.

Margaret Street, Clayton

Our arborists have completed individual tree assessments based on the above criteria. We will be:

  • Removing 16 trees, and
  • Planting 55 trees.
Margaret Street - tree replacement map
Margaret Street - tree replacement map

Tree to be removed and replaced

New tree

Tree removed with no replacement

Species for replanting

Three different options for replanting have been identified by Council's arboriculture team, with species identified as the most appropriate for the conditions. These options are explained below. Residents are then invited to select their preference by using the survey at the bottom of the page. Council's arboriculture team will then begin working towards planting the species in the preferred option.

Elite White Cedar (Melia azedarach ‘Elite’)

A deciduous tree with a rounded to spreading canopy. Deep green glossy foliage turning yellow in autumn. Elite develops very low numbers of flowers or fruit, unlike the common seedling-grown Melia. Dark grey, brown bark that becomes fissured and cracked with age. Tolerates a wide range of soils, from clays to sandy loams. High frost tolerance and drought tolerance. This tree responds very well to formative pruning and powerline clearing.

Size – height and width: 8-10 m x 6-10 m

Foliage: Deciduous

Snow-in-summer (Melaleuca linariifolia)

A small to medium tree with a domed, rounded canopy and low branching. A dense canopy of fine foliage. Whitish, papery bark. An abundance of fluffy white flowers in early summer. An adaptable tree over a wide range of climates and will tolerate less than perfect drainage.

Size - height x width: 7-10 m x 6-9 m

Foliage: Evergreen

Trident Maple (Acer buergerianum)

This is a small deciduous tree with ascending branches when young, maturing to a more rounded canopy. Leaves are small, triangular and tri-lobed. New spring foliage is a rich bronzy-red colour maturing to a dark green in summer. In autumn foliage turns yellow to orange to red. Bark is a pale grey-brown orange and appears scaly or flaky. Flowers are green and inconspicuous.

Size - height x width: 9m x 6m

Foliage: Deciduous

Timeline

  • Timeline item 1 - complete

    Residents invited to provide feedback

    By 20 February 2026.

  • Timeline item 2 - incomplete

    Affected trees removed

    By 30 April 2026.

  • Timeline item 3 - incomplete

    Preferred species planted

    By 30 June 2026.