STREET AND PARK TREE MANAGEMENT PLAN penrith.city PENRITH CITY COUNCIL • Street and Park Tree Management Plan | 2 CONTENTS 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Scope .................................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Purpose .................................................................................................................................................................. 5 1.3 Related Council documents ................................................................................................................................... 5 2. The benefits of trees ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 3. Setting the scene ........................................................................................................................................................... 9 3.1 Context ................................................................................................................................................................. 9 3.2 Opportunities and constraints ............................................................................................................................... 9 4. Planning for the future ................................................................................................................................................ 11 5. Tree management ....................................................................................................................................................... 13 5.1 General .............................................................................................................................................................. 13 5.2 Street trees ........................................................................................................................................................ 13 5.3 Park trees ........................................................................................................................................................... 14 5.4 Tree Risk assessment Program 5.5 Trees on unformed roads and in bushland areas ............................................................................................... 15 5.6 Trees in drainage easements ............................................................................................................................... 15 5.7 Jointly owned trees ............................................................................................................................................ 15 5.8 Damage to trees on Council land ........................................................................................................................ 15 5.9 Damage caused by trees on Council land ............................................................................................................ 16 5.10 Other issues ....................................................................................................................................................... 18 6. Tree selection .............................................................................................................................................................. 24 6.1 General .............................................................................................................................................................. 24 6.2 Criteria for tree species selection ........................................................................................................................ 24 6.3 Native or exotic? .................................................................................................................................................. 26 7. Tree planting ............................................................................................................................................................... 28 7.1 Selecting tree stock ............................................................................................................................................ 28 7.2 Selecting tree planting sites................................................................................................................................ 28 7.3 Planting site size ................................................................................................................................................ 29 7.4 Planting priorities ............................................................................................................................................... 29 7.5 Additional requirements for street tree planting sites ....................................................................................... 29 7.6 Street tree infill planting ...................................................................................................................................... 30 7.7 Tree planting method .......................................................................................................................................... 30 8. Tree establishment ...................................................................................................................................................... 32 9. Tree maintenance ....................................................................................................................................................... 34 9.1 General ................................................................................................................................................................ 34 9.2 Watering .............................................................................................................................................................. 34 9.3 Fertilising and applying soil conditioners ............................................................................................................ 34 9.4 Pruning ................................................................................................................................................................ 34 10. Tree protection .......................................................................................................................................................... 38 11. Tree removal ............................................................................................................................................................ 40 11.1 General ............................................................................................................................................................. 40 11.2 Procedure ......................................................................................................................................................... 40 11.3 Standard of work .............................................................................................................................................. 41 11.4 Driveways ......................................................................................................................................................... 41 11.5 Street tree removal ........................................................................................................................................... 41 11.6 Stump removal .................................................................................................................................................. 42 11.7 Fauna ................................................................................................................................................................. 42 11.8 Infectious material............................................................................................................................................. 42 12. Staff ............................................................................................................................................................................ 44 13. Definitions ................................................................................................................................................................. 45 14. Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................................... 47 PENRITH CITY COUNCIL • Street and Park Tree Management Plan | 4 1.2 PURPOSE 1. INTRODUCTION The aims and objectives of this plan are to: 1.1 SCOPE • inform the community of Council’s position on Collectively, trees under Council’s care and control responsibility for the management of, trees on significantly contribute to the character of the City, Council land and the lifestyle and quality of life of the local • instruct Council staff and Council’s contractors in community. the management and maintenance of trees on The City has a rich natural heritage which supports a Council land diversity of natural environments and biodiversity. • provide a standardised approach to ensure Trees are essential to this landscape. consistency in the management and maintenance Council recognises the importance of vegetation as of trees on Council land part of the City’s urban