2022-08-09 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   9 AUGUST 2022




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SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                            9 AUGUST 2022

                                                                                                    Noosa Shire Council
                                                                                 Guiding Principles for Tree Management
                 In terms of making sound management decisions around tree retention or removal, in more complex cases
                 where the situation with a tree is not clear-cut (not meeting the dead, dying or dangerous criteria) then
                 Council tree staff will apply a scoring system using a set of weighted guiding principles outlined in Appendix
                 D. This system is designed so that if a tree scores higher than 50 out of a possible 100, the tree is retained.
                 If the tree scores lower than 50, it is removed. The benefit of this process and system is that each criteria is
                 measurable, which makes the decision robust and justified, and eliminates any emotion or subjectivity
                 around the value of the tree in question. It also allows staff to defend a tree decision if challenged.

                  6.0     Arboricultural Management Strategy

                 Noosa Council’s Parks & Gardens team developed an Arboricultural Management Strategy in 2019, in
                 response to the tree assessment process and works program at the time having a limited framework that
                 allowed for non-urgent works to be programmed in a proactive and more efficient manner. This mode of
                 delivery was inefficient, expensive and had no tangible auditing process that could demonstrate that
                 Council is managing its tree assets in an effective manner. The intent of the new strategy was to transition
                 froma 100% reactive delivery of service to a mix of proactive and reactive service, programmed into an
                 annual schedule in selected areas of the Shire each year.
                 6.1     Tree Management Precincts

                 The Arboricultural Management Strategy identifies Tree Management Precincts within the Noosa Shire.
                 Each precinct is an area of high use which causes additional pressures on the urban forest. Each Tree
                 Management Precinct is developed with the intention to establish a proactive pruning and tree health care
                 program that will:
                 e   Identify and manage risk through visual tree assessment and a remedial works program.
                 e   Establish re-planting where trees are removed due to poor health, structure or species suitability.
                 e   Improve tree health through cultural management practices.
                 Each Tree Management Precinct assessment includes the following information and recommendations:
                     e   Adetailed assessment of each tree within the identified area.
                     e   Each tree spatially located and included in Council's asset register and mapping system.
                     e   Atree population and condition assessment.
                     e   Atree structure remedial works program based on a 5-year cyclical delivery schedule.
                     e   Aplant health care program to improve the health of trees.
                     e   Awalk over assessment scheduled at 12-month intervals or following any wind event.
                     e   Adetailed assessment scheduled at 36-month intervals.

                 Tree Management Precinct assessments have been completed for the following locations, which include
                 the shopping precincts, associated carparks and adjacent open space parks (if present):
                     e   Hastings Street / Noosa Main Beach (including pathway to First Point)
                     e   Gympie Terrace
                     «   Noosa Junction
                     e   Sunshine Beach
                     e   Peregian Beach
                     e  Tewantin
                     e   Cooroy
                     «   Pomona

                 6.2     Undesirable Species

                 Some existing species historically planted in the Shire are deemed to be undesirable species. Council
                 may consider management strategies to address issues associated with undesirable species. To be
                 classed as an undesirable species, a species must meet one of the following requirements:
                     1.  Beaweed species that is detrimental to local ecosystems e.g. Cocos Palms, Umbrella Trees.

                 Noosa Shire Council                                                                      7

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