1158 Nepean Highway, Mornington
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1158 Nepean Highway, Mornington 2nd November 2018 Tree Logic Ref. 009317 Prepared for Kaufland Australia Pty Ltd Prepared by Greg Pollard & Stephen Frank. Tree Logic Pty. Ltd. Email: [email protected], Telephone: 03 9870 7700 Summary Tree Logic was engaged to undertake an arboricultural assessment and prepare a report for a nominated section of the site at 1158, Nepean Highway, Mornington. The primary purpose of the report was to record attributes of the trees including their species, type and condition, to review any planning overlays relating to the trees and to advise on their arboricultural value and suitable tree protection zones to be employed should trees be retained along with site development. One-hundred and five (105) trees were included in the assessment. Five (5) trees were growing on a neighbouring private property. Of the 105 trees, one was of High arboricultural value, 57 were within the Moderate value range, 41 trees were of Low value, and six were rated as ‘None’ (dead and collapsed trees). From an arboricultural perspective it would be preferable to retain higher-rated trees over those of lower value. Tree Protection Zones have been calculated for each of the trees which, if preserved free of development-related impacts, would allow the condition of the trees to be maintained. Allowing additional space for the smaller trees assessed, over and above their current TPZs, would provide greater scope for them to reach their full potential while minimising future conflicts and maintenance. Clause 52.17 of the local planning scheme contains a permit requirement which may control the removal of Trees 1, 14, 15, 16, 50 and 54 (considered benchmark species of EVC 175: Grassy Woodland) however, there does not appear to be any specific planning overlays governing retention of other trees assessed. Treelogic Pty Ltd Tree Report I ArbRpt-1158 Nepean Highway-Mornington 1 Objectives 1.1 To undertake an inspection of trees within and immediately adjacent to the nominated study area within the subject site at 1158 Nepean Highway, Mornington. 1.2 To record tree characteristics including species, type, age category, health, structure and useful life-expectancy. 1.3 To establish the arboricultural merit of the trees and assign an Arboricultural Rating. 1.4 To calculate Tree Protection Zones to inform decisions in relation to future site use. 2 Method 2.1 An inspection of trees within the study area, comprising a rectangular parcel of land covering the south-western section of the broader property, an area out front of the existing building, an area adjacent to existing car park off Oakbank Road and a section of trees adjacent to the eastern boundary of the site, was undertaken on 13 July, and 30 October 2018. 2.2 The trees were inspected from ground level and no inspection of below ground or internal tree parts was undertaken. Only trees within and immediately adjacent to the nominated area of study were assessed and data collected. 2.3 Observations were made of the assessed trees to determine their species, age category and condition. Tree heights were estimated, crown width was paced, and trunks measured with a diameter tape where accessible. Attributes of neighbouring trees were generally estimated. A selection of photographs of the trees and their environs were taken for further reference and inclusion in the report. 2.4 Assessment details of individual trees are listed in Appendix 1 and a copy of the tree location plan can be seen at Appendix 2. Descriptors used in the assessment can be seen in Appendix 3. 2.5 Each of the assessed trees was attributed an ‘Arboricultural Rating’. The rating correlates the combination of tree condition factors (health and structure) with tree amenity value. Treelogic Pty Ltd Tree Report I ArbRpt-1158 Nepean Highway-Mornington 2 2.6 The trees have been allocated tree protection zones (TPZs) consistent with the AS 4970- 2009 Protection of trees on development sites. This method provides a TPZ that addresses both the stability and growing requirements of a tree. TPZ distances are measured as a radius, from the centre of the trunk at (or near) ground level. TPZ measurements for all assessed trees are provided in Appendix 1. It should be noted that the arboricultural rating and TPZ calculations may be different to the conservation/ecological values and protection methods used by other professions. 3 Observations 3.1 The area of interest for this report was the central section of the site at 1158 Nepean Highway, Mornington, (see Figure 1 for outline of nominated study area). The study area was an existing factory with largely vacant land with some scattered trees located in the south-east of the proposed allotment with a strip of vegetation along the south-western boundary and denser vegetation to the north-east of the site. Figure 1: Nominated Study area shown with red border Treelogic Pty Ltd Tree Report I ArbRpt-1158 Nepean Highway-Mornington 3 3.2 One-hundred and five (105) individual trees were inspected with the supplied survey plan showing five trees (Nos. 8, 10, 12, 17 and 18) were growing within the neighbouring property at 1146 Nepean Highway with the remaining one-hundred (100) trees located within 1158 Nepean Highway. 3.3 The trees were predominately planted specimens of Australian origin, with the majority being native to Victoria (see figure 2 for breakdown of tree types). There were nine specimens of exotic origin (8.6% of total population, with three being Monterey Pine - Pinus radiata). There were 36 different species and cultivars indicating a diverse tree population. The assessed trees also varied widely in size and condition. Figure 2: Breakdown of tree species type (origin) 3.4 The most common tree was the Spotted Gums (Corymbia maculata) with 28 specimens (26.6% of total population). See table 1 for breakdown of common tree species on site (greater than two specimens). The largest and most prominent tree was a Manna Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis) nominated as Tree 1. It was close to the Nepean Highway frontage in the south-western corner of the site. It is a species with a wide natural distribution and given this tree’s size (trunk diameter of 135 cm) and likely age, it is probable that it is a naturally occurring rather than deliberately planted tree. 3.5 Other trees within the property which were of greater arboricultural merit included Tree No. 24 and 101 Spotted Gums, Tree No. 30 River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and Tree 25, an Argyle Apple (Eucalyptus cinerea). Tree 19 a Red Ironbark (Eucalyptus sideroxylon) also provided a substantial canopy and was well located within the site to potentially see it retained within a redevelopment of the site. Treelogic Pty Ltd Tree Report I ArbRpt-1158 Nepean Highway-Mornington 4 Table 1: List of most common assessed trees (greater than 2 in number) 3.6 Each tree assessed was assigned an Arboricultural Rating. The rating reflects tree retention value from an arboricultural perspective and can be used to assist with decisions relating to tree retention and management. A tree may be assigned an Arboricultural Rating of High, Moderate, Low or None. The Moderate category often accounts for a large proportion of any tree population and is, therefore, further divided into three separate groups (Moderate A, B and C). Descriptors relating to the ratings are provided at Appendix 3. The ratings will not always be consistent with those attributed by other professions as trees may also have specific heritage, landscape or ecological values not necessarily considered in an arboricultural assessment. 3.7 Figure 3 provides a breakdown of the arboricultural ratings attributed to the 105 trees assessed (details can be seen in appendix 1). One tree (Tree 1) was of High arboricultural value, 55 trees were within the various Moderate categories, 43 trees were of Low arboricultural value and six trees had no arboricultural value (either severe decline, dead or collapsed) Treelogic Pty Ltd Tree Report I ArbRpt-1158 Nepean Highway-Mornington 5 Figure 3: Breakdown of arboricultural ratings for the assessed trees. Details can be seen in appendix 1 3.8 Images of assessed trees Image 1 (above) Tree 1, the prominent Image 2 (above) Trees 4 and 5, a pair of Low-rated Dwarf Manna Gum in the western corner of the site. Sugar Gums. Treelogic Pty Ltd Tree Report I ArbRpt-1158 Nepean Highway-Mornington 6 Image 3 (above) Tree 19, the healthy Red Image 4 (above) Some of the arboriculturally insignificant Ironbark at the southern corner of Lot 2. vegetation along the south-west boundary. Image 5 (left) Tree 24 on right being a Spotted Gum and Tree 25 on left, an Argyle Apple, both among the better of the ornamental trees within Lot 2. Image 6 (left) Trees 29, 30 and 31 with Tree 30 being the only one of the Tr 31 Tr 30 three of particular merit. Tr 29 Treelogic Pty Ltd Tree Report I ArbRpt-1158 Nepean Highway-Mornington 7 Image 7 (above) Trees 38, 39 & 40 Image 8 (above) Trees 42-45 adjacent to the existing car out front of existing building. park off Oakbank Rd. Image 9 (above) Trees 50 Black She-oak collapsed in foreground Image 10 (above) Trees at southern extent of eastern and Trees 51-53 Spotted Gums at boundary, Tree No. 101 Spotted Gum to right of image. northern extent of tree assessment near eastern boundary out front of existing building. Treelogic Pty Ltd Tree Report I ArbRpt-1158 Nepean Highway-Mornington 8 4 Tree Management 4.1 The site’s development potential is being considered and existing vegetation could represent either an opportunity or a constraint to future site use.