OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF TREES ON PUBLIC LAND www.thehills.nsw.gov.au THE HILLS SHIRE COUNCIL August 2010 1. OVERVIEW As outlined in the Tree and Bushland Management fact sheet: The Hills Shire Council is committed to preserving the amenity of the Shire and the high quality of life that residents enjoy. Trees are of vital importance in improving the visual quality of an area. The predominance of tree cover both in bushland and urban areas forms an integral part of the character of the Hills Shire. Trees play an important part in maintaining the health of our lands and our living environment. Trees breathe, grow and reproduce, protect soil and water supplies, and provide habitat for wildlife. Indigenous trees (and also many introduced species) provide food, shelter and protection from predators for many birds, animals and insect species. Many of these rely on trees for their continued breeding and survival. Trees in urban areas also act as extensions and links between core bushland, as bushland corridors. Trees also reduce the effects of sunlight, summer heat, reflection, pollution, humidity, wind, glare, refraction and noise. Trees act as the lungs of the earth, taking in carbon dioxide and producing oxygen, thus filtering the air and significantly reducing airborne pollution. A Tree and Bushland Management Provision applies to all land within the Hills Shire local government area and is detailed in Clauses 27 and 28 of Baulkham Hills Local Environment Plan 2005. To manage trees in the Shire the Council has developed: . Tree Management Guidelines for Trees on Private Land (adopted by Council 15/12/10); . Procedures for the Management of Trees on Public Land. 2. PURPOSE The purpose of this procedure is to establish Councils work practices towards tree management on public land within The Hills Shire, including trees in parks and on nature strips. It is primarily concerned with the management of the urban forest as distinct from urban and rural bushland, which is managed under Councils statutory powers. The aim of this procedure is to provide a framework for making structured, consistent and environmentally sound management decisions for all public trees that Council is responsible for. It should be noted that it is anticipated that this procedure will be continually developed and updated to keep abreast with technology, legislation, Australian Standards, horticultural practices and improvements to tree species. THE HILLS SHIRE COUNCIL August 2010 3. OBJECTIVES The objectives of the Tree Management Procedure are to:- Improve the wellbeing of our community through a well managed urban forest through ensuring a consistent approach in the management of Council’s street and park trees Manage the urban tree scape through appropriate species selection, planting and care aimed at maintaining and improving a quality tree canopy within the Shire Develop efficient work practices within Council to assist the community with the provision of a diverse and healthy tree environment Plant tree species that are consistent with community health considerations • Identifying procedures for preserving and protecting trees where possible. Provide effective co-ordination of relevant statutory requirements specifically related to tree management; • To identify and preserve significant valuable trees based on historic, visual, cultural, social and ecological criteria; • To broaden the emphasis from tree planting and preservation to an overall approach of urban tree management; • To document and standardise process and procedure to ensure consistency in the management of trees within the Shire; • To increase the total number of trees and green space within the Shire and where possible, replace any tree removed with a replacement tree; • To formally recognise that indigenous and exotic tree species each have a practical and aesthetic role in the improvement of the Shire’s amenity. 4. THE PRESERVATION OF TREES OR VEGETATION For the purpose of preserving the existing tree amenity of the Shire, Council has included in its Local Environment Plan provisions requiring the preservation of trees and bushland. The provisions apply to all trees and other vegetation which are of a species or kind prescribed in this guideline. This provision applies to all land within the Hills Shire local government boundary. Its requirements are as follows: The aim of this Provision is to maintain and enhance the visual amenity of the local government area of The Hills, through the effective control and management of actions likely to affect the health of trees and bushland. The provisions applies to any tree (including a habitat tree) or bushland, except as otherwise provided by the LEP. Except in accordance with a development consent or permit granted by the Council, a person must not ring-bark, cut down, top, lop, remove, injure of wilfully destroy any tree or bushland. Except in accordance with development consent, the carrying out of any filling or excavating (excluding top dressing, gardening, paving on a sand base and the like) within the area vertically beneath the canopy of a tree THE HILLS SHIRE COUNCIL August 2010 or bushland is prohibited. Significant penalties apply for a person found guilty of committing a breach. All tree works will be undertaken in accordance with Australian Standard AS4373- 2007 runing of Amenity Trees and Work Cover Amenity Tree Industry Code of practice 1998. 5. DEFINITION OF A TREE A tree for the purposes of this guideline is a perennial plant with a self supporting woody stem that has spread more than 3 metres or a height of more than 5 metres and measures more than 150 millimetres in diameter measured 1 metre from the ground (Refer Appendix 1). 6. TREE ASSESSMENT Many trees in the urban environment are surrounded by influences that restrict their long-term health and well being. As trees age they are more likely to cause root damage to property, drop limbs and create trip hazards. Given the limited resources of Council, public trees are inspected primarily on a reactive basis. The Safe Use Life Expectancy Method (SULE), Barrel J (2001), is used when assessing trees. An onsite visual tree inspection assessment is undertaken. Requests to remove or prune trees under these procedures shall be assessed by Councils qualified tree management staff. Assessment is based on – health structure form useful life expectancy safety damage caused/potential damage caused compatibility with the surrounding streetscape or landscape compliance with any existing streetscape policy or management plan potential to cause damage or injury to people or structures suitability of species to growing space and conditions heritage or significance Where Arboricultural works are required an assessment of risk is undertaken. This assessment is based on the consequence and the likelihood of failure. A priority will be placed against the work and completed with funds available. Work is prioritised as either one, two or three, one being high priority and three being low priority (See appendix 2 for Tree Evaluation Report). Inspections will be carried out within 10 working days and the customer will be advised of the outcome. THE HILLS SHIRE COUNCIL August 2010 6.1 TREE MANAGEMENT After risks are assessed, the most appropriate management measure will be identified. Effective risk management will reduce the likelihood or severity of a risk to an acceptable level. Councils approach to common tree management issues are outlined below: PRIVATE SEWER AND STORMWATER PLUMBING Sewer and storm water pipes are assets of the property owner and therefore the property owners responsibility to maintain. If a blockage occurs in a customers private sewer or storm water pipe, the property owner should engage a licensed plumber to fix the problem. Blocked sewer lines may be caused by tree roots, inappropriate material put down the drains, sections of pipe collapsing, ground subsidence, debris or siltation. Tree roots are not known to enter pipes which are well maintained. If tree roots have entered a pipe this is usually the result of the roots seeking water that is available because of the actual deterioration of the pipe (due to age/quality etc) or the failure of the seals joining the pipes. As the maintenance of these pipes are the responsibility of property owner, it is their responsibility to repair. Blockages to underground private pipes will not be grounds for removal of a tree. DRIVEWAYS AND PRIVATE STRUCTURES (Retaining walls, fences & other infrastructure) Driveways and private structures are assets of the property owner and therefore the property owners responsibility to maintain and repair. Where property owners believe that public tree roots are damaging or have the potential to cause damage to driveways and structures, the property Owner should contact the Council as soon as possible to allow the Council to take appropriate action concerning the public tree. Options available include root pruning, removal of the tree, other. As outlined in this procedure the Council will endeavour to preserve public trees where ever possible. Removal or trimming of a public tree for the construction of a new driveway will only be considered as an absolute last resort and will need to be the subject of a written application to Council. Should Council approve the removal or trimming of a public tree in such circumstances, the applicant will be responsible for the cost. This will include the planting of a suitable replacement, where possible. This work will be undertaken by Council or its nominated contractor and an invoice will be forwarded to the applicant upon completion. PEST AND DISEASE Generally Council does not treat trees for pest and disease but rely on the trees natural defence mechanisms to overcome the infection. Trees are sometimes genetically weak and may not repair. This may be grounds for removal. THE HILLS SHIRE COUNCIL August 2010 ALLERGIES TO TREES Many people in the community have allergic reactions to plant pollen resulting in seasonal hay fever.