Significant Tree Register Policy and Guidelines Review

Background

The City's Significant Tree Register provides additional protection to trees that hold special aesthetic, social, cultural or ecological value.

The City’s existing policy and guidelines outline the process, requirements and considerations when nominating a tree for the register, and obligations for landowners who own a tree on the Register.

What modifications are proposed?

The draft amended Policy seeks to incentivise the registration of significant trees on private land, ensuring greater protection is afforded to them.

Proposed amendments include:

• Removal of the requirement for potentially affected neighbours to consent to the nomination of a significant tree on an adjoining property
• Relaxing of assessment criteria for inclusion in the Register; requiring only one optional criteria be met instead of two, and
• Changes to development incentives for properties with a significant tree.

Further information including a full summary of amendments are included in the report presented to Council, at its Ordinary Council Meeting on 22 October 2024.

How to get involved

Submissions on the amended Significant Tree Register Policy and Guidelines can be made by filling out the submission form below.

Submissions close Monday 9 December 2024.

The City is also carrying out consultation on its Trees on Private Land and Street Verges Policy. Click here to view the proposed amendments and provide feedback.

Next steps

Following the consultation period, the City will consider all submissions. A report will then be prepared and presented to Council in the following months for final consideration of the Policy and Guidelines.