Arborist Further Advice Response Letter

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I NFORMATION R EQUEST
Noosa Council has requested additional information on two points relating to existing trees
located on the council road verge adjacent to the property at 2 Arakoon Crescent.

Details of each tree were focused upon within the submitted Arboricultural Impact Assessment
report. 23_02_22_AIA_Adapt_2 Arakoon_2



Request details provided by Adapt Planning by email dated 14/09/2023:

“Issue – Vegetation in the road reserve The application material requires the removal
of existing mature trees considered to be vegetation. PO5 of the Coastal Communities
Local Plan Code requires that development character retains and enhances key
landscape elements including existing character trees and areas of significant
vegetation contributing to the setting and character of the local plan area.

Information Required

1. Provide revised plans that allow for the preservation of trees 8 and 14 identified in
the Arboricultural Impact Assessment. The plans need to demonstrate no intrusion of
the tree protection zone of Trees 8 and 14.”



R ESPONSE
Tree 8
It was advised that the location of Tree #8 conflicts with the required driveway location to
facilitate safe entry and exist.

This point is to be clarified by the engineering company Westerapartners.

Tree 14
With Tree 14 located within 1m of the property boundary, it has grown up with the existing
dwelling within its theoretically calculated Tree Protection/Root Zone radius. That being said,
any form of construction located on the property boundary will have some degree of intrusion
into the tree’s active root zone. The Australian standard, AS4970-2009 Protection of trees on
development sites, tolerates a degree of root zone intrusion if the measurements of the project
design and the construction methodology have been taken into consideration and a suitably
qualified arborist has been engaged to assess the percentage of the root zone intrusion. The
key elements for attention when assessing root zone intrusion include the type of tree, its
vigour and ability to adapt to a change in surroundings and the soil type.

It was acknowledged in the submitted AIA report, ‘23_02_22_AIA_Adapt_2 Arakoon_2’, that
the proposed wall design and construction methodology would need to be taken into
consideration to reduce the likely impact on the tree’s roots. The design available at the time
did not show this level of detail.




23_10_06_IR_Adapt_2Arakoon                                                           Page 2 of 5

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In response to the Information Request, the design of the section of boundary wall adjacent to
the tree has been reviewed and redesigned with an emphasis on the use of lighter construction
materials and a soft touch methodology. It is now proposed that the stone wall section at the
tree will be replaced with a lightweight metal fence. This section of the fence is supported by
fixing it to the wall end with central support from spaced posts. This design avoids the majority
of the strip fountains inside the tree’s calculated TPZ, resulting in a short section only of
intrusion at the western end. This would be deemed as less than 10% root zone intrusion and
with additional contiguous ground available throughout the council road reserve this is deemed
acceptable.

The post holes within the TPZ can be kept to a diameter of 150-200mm and to an approximate
depth of 1m to provide increased stability. These holes can be slightly flexible in positioning to
avoid larger roots over 75mm in diameter. The Project Arborist should oversee and guide the
works to create the post holes which can be undertaken by a hydro vacuum excavator with
the water pressure below 100 psi.

Please see the Aboda Design Group plans 231005 2205 Kelly Arakoon Cres (DRFI 06) for
details.

With the majority of the tree’s natural root growth within a garden bed on the opposite side of
the property, calculating an accurate root zone intrusion percentage is not achievable. Trees
are adaptive and opportunistic, growing roots where conditions are more favourable rather
than in a geometrically even radius. Over recent years the property owner has mulched and
irrigated the garden bed occupying the Council road reserve, actions that would have
encouraged root growth in these favourable and improved conditions. This care is planned to
continue after the project has been completed.

While root zone intrusion is not ideal, a project design and the tree can co-exist with care
during the construction phase, and mitigation measures implemented, particularly if a tree has
good vigour and a natural ability as a species to adapt, and the soil conditions present are
favourable to root growth.




23_10_06_IR_Adapt_2Arakoon                                                              Page 3 of 5

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Aboda Design Group plans 231005 2205 Kelly Arakoon Cres (DRFI 06)




23_10_06_IR_Adapt_2Arakoon                                   Page 4 of 5

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C OPYRIGHT
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@280c per word per incident of unauthorised usage. No part of this report may be reproduced or used without the
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A SSUMPTIONS AND D ISCLAIMER
This information contained in this report has been prepared on an independent basis, free of any bias and
represents the honest opinion of the consulting arborist.

All data is based on a visual inspection of the tree/s and its/their location at the time of writing, unless otherwise
stated, and contains opinions, advice and recommendations based on information and data gathered from site
inspections carried out by the author and information supplied by the Client (Adapted Planning).

All information received from the Client shall be deemed to be true, accurate and up to date.

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any loss of or damage caused or alleged to have been caused (including loss or damage resulting from negligence)
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author has been advised of the possibility of such a loss or damage.

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qualified staff or without the supervision of Consult Arborist.

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of this report unless subsequent contractual arrangements have been made.

The information contained in this report refers only to the tree/s and information that was reviewed on 6/10/2023
and reflects the condition of the tree/s at the time of the inspection.

There is no warranty or guarantee, expressed or implied, that the problems or deficiencies of the plants or property
in question may not arise in the future. Likewise, remedial treatments cannot be guaranteed.

Arboriculturalists cannot detect every condition that could possibly lead to the structural failure of a tree. Trees are
living organisms that fail in ways we do not fully understand. Conditions are often hidden within trees and below
ground. Consult Arborist Pty Ltd and the author cannot guarantee that a tree will be healthy or safe under all
circumstances, or for a specified period of time.

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Arborist Pty Ltd has no control.

Treatment, pruning and removal of trees may involve considerations beyond the scope of the Arboriculturalists
services, such as property boundaries and ownership, disputes between neighbours, sightlines, landlord-tenant
matters and related. Consult Arborist Pty Ltd cannot take such issues into account unless the complete and
accurate information is given to them. Likewise, Consult Arborist Pty Ltd cannot accept any responsibility for the
authorization or non-authorization of any recommended treatment or remedial measure.

Arboriculturalists are tree specialists who use their education, knowledge, training, and experience to examine
trees, recommend measures to enhance the beauty and health of trees and attempt to reduce the risk of living near
trees. Trees can be managed, but they cannot be controlled. To live or work near a tree involves some degree of
risk. The only way to eliminate all risks associated with a tree is to eliminate the tree.

Clients may choose to accept or disregard the recommendations of Consult Arborist Pty Ltd or to seek additional
advice.




23_10_06_IR_Adapt_2Arakoon                                                                                  Page 5 of 5