Update: Preferred species selected

Thank you to everyone who voted on their preferred street tree species for Wallace Avenue. Based on community feedback, the chosen option for this street is Stenocarpus sinuatis.

Stenocarpus sinuatus

A spectacular tall native shade tree, Stenocarpus sinuatus, or the Firewheel tree, is loved for its interesting leaf shape, slender silhouette and unique flowers. Striking, bright red, wheel-shaped flowers appear in late summer bringing native birds and bees to the garden. Excellent for streetscapes, screening or as a specimen tree. Tip prune while young to encourage a smaller dense rounded shape, or leave to grow tall and open.

Size - height x width: 8-20m x 2-5m

Foliage: Evergreen

Background

As part of Monash Council's Street Tree Strategy, residents of Wallace Avenue are invited to let us know what type of tree you'd like to see us plant in your street.

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

Why does Council identify trees for removal?

When assessing a street that is 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 which 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.

Wallace Avenue, Oakleigh South

Our arborists have completed individual tree assessments based on the above criteria and, in Wallace Avenue, we are proposing to remove no trees and will be planting a total of 3 trees in currently vacant locations.

Wallace Avenue - 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 most appropriate for the conditions. These options are explained below with residents invited to pick their preference by using the below survey. Council's arboriculture team will then begin working towards planting the species in the preferred option.

Fraxinus griffithii to be planted on powerline side and Fraxinus oxycarpa 'Raywoodii' to be planted on non powerline side.

Fraxinus griffithii:

This fast growing, drought tolerant, attractive tree has leaves that are green and shiny on the top and hairy silver coloured underneath. They are oval shaped with pointy tips. The flowers appear in panicles, are white and borne in Spring.

Size - height x width: 6-8m x 4m

Foliage: Evergreen

Fraxinus oxycarpa 'Raywoodii':

An attractive, fast growing deciduous tree with an upright growth habit and open canopy. The foliage is deep green and narrow in summer and as autumn approaches, turns a rich claret colour, hence the name. This is a beautiful tree with stunning autumn colours, tolerant of frost and drought.

Size - height x width: 12m x 7m

Foliage: Deciduous

Stenocarpus sinuatus

A spectacular tall native shade tree, Stenocarpus sinuatus, or the Firewheel tree, is loved for its interesting leaf shape, slender silhouette and unique flowers. Striking, bright red, wheel-shaped flowers appear in late summer bringing native birds and bees to the garden. Excellent for streetscapes, screening or as a specimen tree. Tip prune while young to encourage a smaller dense rounded shape, or leave to grow tall and open.

Size - height x width: 8-20m x 2-5m

Foliage: Evergreen

Acer platanoides to be planted on both sides of the road.

This is a flashy crimson foliaged maple with dense upright branching. It has a compact growth habit with large crimson leaves in summer turning to gold and orange in autumn. Adds great colour contrast foliage. This is a small tree with grey-black bark that is lightly textured.

Size - height x width: 7m x 4m

Foliage: Deciduous