2022-08-09 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                      9 AUGUST 2022


2    TREE MANAGEMENT ON PUBLIC LAND POLICY

Author             Matt Hansen – Parks & Gardens Coordinator
                   Civil & Asset Operations Branch, Infrastructure Services Department

Index              ECM/ Subject / Governance & Executive / Council Policies
                   ECM/Subject / Environmental Management / Vegetation

Attachments        1.   Tree Management on Public Land Policy
                   2.   Community Survey Response Report
                   3.   Guiding Principles for Tree Management

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The existing Tree Management on Public Land Policy was adopted in June 2018. This policy
has been reviewed and the proposed revisions include a number of amendments which are
intended to better define Council’s position regarding tree management on Council controlled
land.
Community consultation on the draft policy amendments via a survey which received 98
responses. The comments received from the survey have informed the final policy.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Parks & Gardens Coordinator to the Services & Organisation
Committee Meeting dated 9 August 2022 and adopt the revised Tree Management on Public
Land Policy provided at Attachment 1.

REPORT
Trees form a major element of the urban and rural landscape in Noosa Shire and provide a
range of benefits apart from their visual amenity including improving air quality, stormwater
management and energy reduction as well as providing homes and food for our local wildlife.

The intent of the Tree Management on Public Land Policy (Attachment 1) is to ensure that trees
on public land are managed in a consistent, transparent and sustainable manner, in accordance
with all relevant legislation and are recognised and treated as valuable assets of the community,
whilst balancing the risks associated with trees which require management.

The table below shows a summary of the changes incorporated in the revised policy.

 Section Heading            Summary of Changes

 Purpose                    No change.

 Scope                      Changes have been made to the listing of land types and tenures for
                            which the policy does not apply including:
                                • Additional text about property owner responsibility to identify their
                                    property boundary
                                • “Plants identified under the Noosa Council Pest Management
                                    Plan” has been replaced by “Plants identified under the Noosa
                                    Biosecurity Plan 2020”
                                • Addition of “Trees on roads controlled by Queensland Department
                                    of Transport and Main Roads”
                                • Addition of “Nature Conservation Act (1992)” with regard to
                                    vegetation regulation

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