Shellharbour City Council has proposed changes to its tree management plan. Photo: Shellharbour City Council.
Often the root cause of disputes between neighbours, property damage to home foundations and concerns about safety to walkers in residential areas stems from trees on properties.
In fact, tree management is one of the most common requests from residents to Shellharbour City Council.
Now, council is extending an olive branch to the community by inviting feedback on proposed changes to the Development Control Plan (DCP) for managing trees and vegetation, which is on public exhibition until 24 April.
Proposed changes aim to clarify when council will permit tree removal or pruning on private land and undertake tree works on public land.
In turn, it hopes to strengthen protections for the city’s tree assets.
Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer said the proposed changes were designed to ensure tree removal was carried out responsibly, while providing greater flexibility to landowners.
“Our priority is to protect our green spaces and cityscape by removing trees only when they pose a safety risk,” Cr Homer said.
“At the same time, we’re reinforcing our commitment to sustainability and the ongoing protection of our green spaces.”
Proposed changes include raising the height limit from three to five metres for greater flexibility near structures; ensuring development consent trees can be removed if they present a safety risk; expanding the exempt species list to include invasive or self-seeding species; and introducing offset planting to ensure removed trees are replaced or a levy paid to council.
During the 25 March council meeting, Cr John Davey said he hoped “it doesn’t become dog policy part two” after its February meeting resulted in council deciding to retain an old limit of four dogs per residential property after strong public feedback.
“I think it will be a welcome change in the community,” Cr Davey said.
Cr Petreski agreed.
“I think it’s important we strike a balance between tree preservation and sensible and sustainable development and I hope this strikes that balance,” he said.
Cr Homer said these proposed changes were part of council’s ongoing efforts to manage trees responsibly, ensuring both public safety and the preservation of Shellharbour’s natural environment.
“Trees are vital to the health of our community,” he said.
“This updated policy allows us to manage tree-related risks effectively while ensuring Shellharbour’s tree canopy thrives for years to come.
“By only removing trees when absolutely necessary, we’re preserving a green, safe, and sustainable environment for future generations.”
He said council was committed to maintaining best practices in tree management.
To learn more and share feedback, visit council’s website. The policy will be on public exhibition until 24 April.
