CITY of Stirling will undertake a tree change to tackle tree canopy loss which is declining at an “alarming” rate.
Changes to the City’s Local Planning Scheme will come into play in October to help protect trees on private developments across City suburbs.
The amendment has already been approved by the Planning Minister and will encourage all private land owners to retain existing ‘significant’ trees and require replacement trees to be planted on-site at one tree per 500 sq m.
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READ NOWThe changes will apply to all developments more than $100,000 and applicants will also be required to pay for trees to be planted on verges.
Mayor Giovanni Italiano said about 75 trees were removed each week from private land to allow for developments.
“If nothing changes almost half of the tree canopy in residential areas will be lost over the next 15 years, leaving only 5 per cent of residential land being shaded by trees,” he said.
“Landowners and developers are still able to develop their sites even if they have significant trees but these changes encourage developers to design around trees to maximise the benefits that trees provide to new dwellings and ultimately to our community.”
Mr Italiano said no one enjoyed living in a “concrete jungle”.
The changes do not mandate the retention of significant trees except in special circumstances such as a rare species or if a trees has historical significance.
What is a significant tree?
– Over 4m in height and if single truck minimum circumference of 500mm at 1m above ground level. – If multi trunked species – each trunk is at least 250mm in circumference at 1m above ground level.
More information www.stirling.wa.gov.au/planningscheme.
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