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Share your thoughts on draft tree management plan in Baw Baw Shire by 26 Feb 2024

Share your views on tree protection in Baw Baw Shire! Provide feedback on council's Draft Tree Management Plan and Policy. Consultation open on Baw Baw Connect until February 26, 2024.

By news@gippsland - 2nd February 2024 - Back to News

Have your say on the protection and management of trees in the Baw Baw Shire with consultation for council's Draft Tree Management Plan and Draft Tree Management Policy now open. These two documents will guide council when managing its trees in the future, ensuring it is acting in the best interests of the community, while upholding public safety and maintaining green townships that residents can value and appreciate.

The Draft Policy outlines a systematic, measurable approach to tree management, emphasising risk and public safety, and addresses customer inquiries

Tree management input

This consultation closely follows council's recent Significant Tree Study, which closed last week. Once finalised, the Significant Tree Study will support changes to the Baw Baw Planning Scheme to protect significant trees and build a better understanding of environmental assets across the Shire.

The consultation for the Draft Tree Management Plan and Draft Tree Management Policy will be open for feedback on Baw Baw Connect until Monday 26 February 2024. The draft plan covers the management of trees that are alongside roads and paths managed by council, in council managed open space and, in the vicinity of electric lines where council is responsible for the clearance of trees. The draft plan also establishes a clear set of guidelines for council and the community.

Comprehensive tree management

The following areas have been included in the Draft Tree Management Plan so that council has an endorsed position in the future:

• Service levels in Urban and Rural Maintenance Areas
• Risk, damage, and insurance procedures
• Tree amenity values
• Tree protection zones
• Private planting roadsides
• Management of tree pests and diseases
• Overhanging trees and interference with TV reception, solar panels, fence lines and leaf litter
• Tree maintenance processes regarding removal, pruning, habitat trees, replacement of inappropriate tree species under power lines
• Heritage and memorial trees
• Trees overhanging gravel walking tracks and trails
• Trees within unused road reserves

You can read the full draft plan by visiting the Draft Tree Management Plan and Policy website. The Tree Management Policy will become the overarching document informing how council manages its urban and rural trees, while also outlining council's position and legal requirements for tree management. View the full draft policy at Draft Tree Management Plan and Policy website.

Provide your feedback

Baw Baw Shire Mayor Cr Annemarie McCabe said that council is aware of the important role that trees play in beautifying the local community and what an important asset they are. "We know how important looking after our trees is and the council has an important role to play in balancing the needs and wants of our community, while also keeping everyone safe."

"By putting these two documents out for public exhibition we are giving our community the chance to read and consider these, before giving us their thoughts and feedback on how we can best manage trees in the future in Baw Baw," the Mayor said. Visit Draft Tree Management Plan and Policy website today and have your say, your way.

Pictures from Baw Baw Shire Council website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com