Cr. Korzy's Motion - 'Review of Tree Stewardship and Creation of Tree Management Policy', passed at the Meeting held to clear some of the Items remaining from the July 30 Meeting.
However, it was confirmed that the council intends, at this stage, to remove the 2 remaining trees, and that this may occur in early October. Council confirmed that in the meantime, while waiting for the contractors cranes to be available again, they are reviewing the Arborists reports submitted by qualified residents.
Cr. Korzy's Motion reads:
That Council:1. Undertake an internal review of its tree assessment, pruning and removal processes including:a. Frequency of inspections of individual mature trees on public land.b. The number of arborists on the relevant Council panel and the criteria used to assess and appoint them.c. Standard instructions provided to arborists when undertaking tree assessments.d. Consultation with the public regarding potential tree removals.e. Actions taken to inform the public following identification of a high risk tree and mitigate risk.f. Protocols for the review of tree removal and pruning decisions including the triggers for when these reviews are undertaken.2. As part of that review, identify the funding required to:a. Inspect and assess mature trees to safely retain them in situ for their useful life expectancy.b. Prune, stag or completely remove unsafe mature trees across the LGA on an annual basis.c. Maintain existing trees including ongoing watering of tubestock/saplings, fertilising, weeding around them, and mulching as foreshadowed in the Tree Canopy Plan.3. Create a Tree Management Policy for Northern Beaches Council, consistent with the Tree Canopy Plan as resolved by Council in September 2023.4. Within six months report to council on the outcome of the reviews in points 1. and 2. as well as the new draft Tree Management Policy.
BACKGROUND FROM COUNCILLOR KORZY
Council research shows that of all its areas of responsibility, residents of the Northern Beaches place the highest value on the environment. One of the critical elements of this is our tree canopy, which carries out many functions, including providing habitat for wildlife as well as preventing soil erosion and the consequent stormwater runoff. Urban trees can also have a massive effect on reducing extreme heat. A single tree can alone offer the surrounding area up to 270 kilowatt-hours in evapo-transpirative cooling energy each day (Cameron et al. 2012). To put this into context, it would cost more than $50.00 per day to run air conditioners that produced the same cooling effect.
An intact canopy also creates shade, lowering air temperatures by at least six degrees Celsius in urban areas on a hot day [Ossola, Staas, Leishman 2020], thus reducing the heat island effect.
Urban infrastructure under the canopy, such as roads, are also shaded from intense heat and thus deteriorate more slowly, making them less costly to maintain. Trees also absorb carbon dioxide and regulate soil moisture, reducing the presence of various greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. Finally, trees beautify our urban areas and improve mental health in the community.
However, between 2019 and 2022, the Northern Beaches experienced the second highest loss of tree canopy in Greater Sydney at 5.2 per cent, or 665 hectares (Orton, J, & Moore, S, 2024), with Ku-Ring-Gai Council taking top billing. NBC data indicates that since 2016 when this council was created, we have lost about 30,000 trees - and that does not include those removed illegally or under the state government’s 10/50 clearing laws. Whilst we have planted a similar number, small saplings cannot replicate the functions of our mature trees for many decades.
In Pittwater, one of the most frequent complaints I hear is about tree removal. Many of these relate to trees felled under Development Application approvals or the 10/50 rule but I also receive many about trees cut down on public land. Usually I don’t hear about them until the trees have gone and residents are angry.
In the recent case of four trees marked for removal on the road reserve at Ruskin Rowe, in Avalon Beach, I heard from multiple residents, including local arborists and ecologists, who wanted these trees retained.
I believe a review of our tree management processes and the budget required to properly fund this area is now timely. The full implementation of council’s Tree Canopy Plan, adopted last September, could also help ameliorate our loss of local trees but we must develop a single Tree Management Policy from this plan for it to be effective.
Previously:
- July 2024: Pittwater Greens Councillor calls for review of tree management policy
- June 2023: Ruskin Row Blockade Provides Reprieve To Flooded Gums: Residents Fed-Up With Council Destruction Of Pittwater's Trees - 30 Thousand Trees Lost Since Forced Union Of Pittwater With Warringah
- Front Page Issue 630
- From The Council Chamber June 25, 2024 by Pittwater Greens Councillor Miranda Korzy