Project update

The Tree Management Policy was adopted by Council at the 25 May 2021 meeting.

It aims to provide a clear agreement with the community as to how Council will manage its trees.

The policy identifies six guiding principles Council will use to guide its day-to-day activities:

  • Tree Retention
  • Planting
  • Community Safety
  • Property Protection
  • Customer Responsiveness
  • Governance

View the policy here: https://shape.monash.vic.gov.au/tree-policy

Overview

We are seeking community feedback on the draft Tree Management Policy.

The draft Policy aims to form a clear understanding and agreement with the community on how Council will manage its trees located on Council managed land.

The draft policy aims to achieve the following objectives;

  • To recognise the importance of the tree canopy throughout the City
  • To recognise the importance of street trees, bushland and indigenous trees and the ecological and economic role they play in the City
  • To increase and enhance the extent of tree canopy throughout the City through planting of appropriately selected trees in streets, public spaces and bushland areas
  • To provide workable assessment criteria for the management of trees on Council land e.g. tree removal, pruning and planting
  • To meet all legislative requirements and standards relating to the management of Council trees.

The draft Policy provides a set of guiding principles, relevant legislation and operational guidance which will be used by Council to manage its trees on a day to day basis.

The guiding principles aim to recognise that there are a number of equally valuable aspects that must guide and inform the decision making and action of Council in any tree matter.

We invite you review the draft policy and provide constructive feedback. We want to know where you think we have got it right and what might need to change?

Your feedback will help us to create a final policy that works for everyone.

Image of a street tree

Your feedback will inform the final policy

We will collate and consider all feedback that you provide. After that, we will report back to Council with any recommended changes. We will share the final Tree Management Policy with you by mid-2021.

The final policy and tree management plan will be implemented for all trees on Council-managed streets, roads, reserves and public open space.

Feedback closed on Sunday 14 March 2021.


1. Read the draft Tree Management Policy

2. Please answer these questions below

Complete the survey here

Closed

Section 1: Our proposed guiding principles for tree management (page 5 of the Policy)

1. To what extent do you agree with the guiding principles Council proposes to use to manage its trees on a day to day basis?
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
TREE RETENTION: Priority will be given to protecting and retaining existing trees on all sites. Trees are a high value asset that are not easily replaced.
TREE RETENTION: Priority will be given to protecting and retaining existing trees on all sites. Trees are a high value asset that are not easily replaced.
PLANTING: Opportunities for additional tree planting on reserves will be identified proactively and actions on an ongoing basis to assist in achieving the goal of 30% canopy cover by 2040.
PLANTING: Opportunities for additional tree planting on reserves will be identified proactively and actions on an ongoing basis to assist in achieving the goal of 30% canopy cover by 2040.
COMMUNITY SAFETY: Trees will be managed so that any risks to the public are minimised to the greatest extent possible.
COMMUNITY SAFETY: Trees will be managed so that any risks to the public are minimised to the greatest extent possible.
PROPERTY PROTECTION: Trees will be managed so that any risks to property damaged now, and in the future, are minimised.
PROPERTY PROTECTION: Trees will be managed so that any risks to property damaged now, and in the future, are minimised.
CUSTOMER RESPONSIVENESS: Residents and other customers concern with trees will be responded to promptly and with empathy, with the goal of resolving with the best possible outcome for tree retention and customer satisfaction.
CUSTOMER RESPONSIVENESS: Residents and other customers concern with trees will be responded to promptly and with empathy, with the goal of resolving with the best possible outcome for tree retention and customer satisfaction.
GOVERNANCE: Plan, deliver, monitor and report on all tree maintenance activities to ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, regulations, policies and plans.
GOVERNANCE: Plan, deliver, monitor and report on all tree maintenance activities to ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, regulations, policies and plans.
Clicking a button moves the item between the two lists. List one (left column):
  1. TREE RETENTION Priority will be given to protecting and retaining existing trees on all sites. Trees are a high value asset that are not easily replaced.
  2. PLANTING Opportunities for additional tree planting on reserves will be identified proactively and actions on an ongoing basis to assist in achieving the goal of 30% canopy cover by 2040.
  3. COMMUNITY SAFETY Trees will be managed so that any risks to the public are minimised to the greatest extent possible.
  4. PROPERTY PROTECTION Trees will be managed so that any risks to property damaged now, and in the future, are minimised.
  5. CUSTOMER RESPONSIVENESS Residents and other customers concern with trees will be responded to promptly and with empathy, with the goal of resolving with the best possible outcome for tree retention and customer satisfaction.
  6. GOVERNANCE Plan, deliver, monitor and report on all tree maintenance activities to ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, regulations, policies and plans.
List two (right column):

Section 2: Tree removal (page 11 of the Policy)

5. To what extent do you support the policy position on removal of dying trees? Council will support tree removal when a tree is dying or in decline because it:
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
Poses a higher risk to community due to likelihood of failure
Poses a higher risk to community due to likelihood of failure
Ceases to provide environmental and health and wellbeing benefits expected from a healthy tree
Ceases to provide environmental and health and wellbeing benefits expected from a healthy tree
Typically requires higher levels of reactive maintenance
Typically requires higher levels of reactive maintenance
7. To what extent do you support the policy position on tree removal according to life expectancy? Very High to High Risk locations include playgrounds, picnic areas and early years centres. Moderate to Low Risk locations include local roads and reserves with moderate to low use.
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
Trees located in Very High to High Risk areas will be considered for removal within 5 years of useful life expectancy.
Trees located in Very High to High Risk areas will be considered for removal within 5 years of useful life expectancy.
Trees located in Moderate to Low areas will be considered for removal within 3 years of useful life expectancy.
Trees located in Moderate to Low areas will be considered for removal within 3 years of useful life expectancy.

Section 3: General feedback

Privacy collection statement

Monash City Council is committed to protecting personal information provided by you in accordance with the principles of the Victorian Privacy & Data Protection Act 2014.

The information you provide will be used to assist Council staff to determine the community support for the principles of the draft Tree Management Policy.

Your contact details may be used by Council to update you on progress of the project.

You may access information you have provided to Council and make corrections if you believe that information is incorrect. For further information including Council’s information privacy policy, visit www.monash.vic.gov.au