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Yes please, more trees

27/1/2023

4 Comments

 
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WHEN it comes to urban tree cover, Cowes and Inverloch are the standout towns in Bass Coast with 32 and 30 per cent tree cover respectively on public and private land. San Remo is the most barren, with just 14 per cent tree cover.  
 
The council’s draft Urban Forest Strategy, released for community comment just before Christmas, sets out a plan to protect and grow the shire’s urban forest with a target of a 40 per cent tree canopy coverage by 2040, with a minimum 25 per cent for every neighbourhood.

Urban forests include all trees and vegetation in an urban area, including street trees, nature strips, parks, open space as well as backyards, industrial areas and conservation sites.

Under the strategy, the council has committed to planting 1500 trees annually – an increase of approximately 1200 trees a year on the current program. The plan favours species that will adapt to the area’s changing climate, particularly native and indigenous vegetation.

In addition, the council will compile a detailed tree inventory, continue to support tree protection mechanisms and develop a Street and Park Tree Protection and Removal Policy with clear protocols for tree protection.
Picture
PictureDownload the strategy
Research for the strategy shows that Bass Coast is coming off a fairly high base of tree cover, well ahead of other comparable shires including Casey, Cardinia, Geelong, Shepparton, Mornington Peninsula and Frankston.

However, Bass Coast Mayor Michael Whelan said the shire’s existing urban forest was under increasing pressure from development and climate change and the best defence was to grow the urban forest.
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“While most of our townships enjoy a decent amount of greenery, with an average of 25 per cent urban forest cover across our largest townships, we can’t afford to take that for granted. Today’s urban forest faces some serious threats such as climate change and urban development.

“Our urban forest already delivers so many benefits. As it grows it will play a critical role in capturing carbon, providing habitat for our birds and wildlife. And let’s not underestimate the health and wellbeing benefits trees and gardens bring by cooling our urban environment and providing a connection with nature.

“We hope our community and landholders will embrace our vision for urban greening and grow the urban forest on their land too.”

The council will take public comment on the strategy until February 20. The final strategy will be released before June 2023.


4 Comments
ian samuel
27/1/2023 12:25:46 pm

Tree cover is one of the most important mitigators of urban temperature and improves social ambience.
This factor needs to be included in planning and development controls as a mandatory requirement for urban development.
Of major concern is the high density building approvals that strip local communities of the established benefits of Green leaf cover.
There are many examples in Bass Coast where developers are allowed to maximise building cover without consideration of the reduction in green space.

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Yvonne McRae
28/1/2023 11:11:45 am

Well said Ian. On one hand we have the Shire embracing an Urban Forest Strategy on the other the Planning Department passes developments which completely cover small block packages with McMansions, no room for ANY tree, or even a decent sized shrub. Take a drive down McGibbobys road, or Fuller road, some houses with such a small space between their fence with the neighbors, any access would have to be by fairies or leprechauns. And the 'gardens' - front covered in pebbles and a few rocks, or similarly with black mulch! No shelter for the tiniest bird and definitely no food sources. If the Shire is fair dinkum about trees for (a) the environment (b) for health and wellbeing of people get real with planning. Also the 'playground' beside McGibbonys estate where is the shade for any child clutching the equipment on a hot day? Even a shade sail could be erected for the long, hot summer. Yvonne

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Anne Heath Mennell
28/1/2023 02:39:04 pm

Spot on, Ian and well said, Yvonne. You only have to walk around any of the new estates to see plenty of shrubs and trees planted by developers on nature-strips which are already stunted, dying or dead.

Congratulations to Council for producing this draft strategy and seeking community feedback. However, we need to ensure actions not just words. That requires funding, monitoring and enforcement where necessary.

How ironic that Council is planning an Urban Forest at the same time that the government seems determined to destroy the last remnant of our native coastal forest! This is despite objections from the community, Council, conservation organisations and others and despite the whole Shire being declared a Distinctive Area and Landscape. Save the Western Port Woodlands!

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Linda D
29/1/2023 12:41:18 pm

Just yesterday passed a block that had a huge (I think) walnut tree, lemon and mandarin tree's, which had sat empty for a long time so neighbours could pick the fruit, and every single tree has been cut down, and markings on ground, I presume a big house put in it's place. Seems like no one wants to preserve these old fruit tree's or even grow any tree's in their yards anymore. More important to have that showcase double storey house taking up all the land.

San Remo gets a lot of strong winds so maybe why tree's are more sparse too. I lived there for years and was seeing tree's or their branches fall every year in the rental property I was in.

It is important to get good advice about the types of tree's to plant that won't ruin the underground pipes etc.

And please don't plant sheok's near housing, they drop bits and pieces all year round.

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