We are updating our Tree Management Policy to reflect our strengthened commitment to protecting and enhancing tree canopy cover across our city.

This Policy recognises the importance of trees within the natural and built environment and sets out the key principles of how Council plants, protects, manages and values its tree assets. The policy applies to the planting and management of trees on land under council’s care and control e.g. public and sporting reserves, street verges, coastal parks and wetlands.

To find out more about our tree canopy target and urban greening, please see the urban greening and biodiversity page on our website

We asked for your feedback on our draft Tree Management Policy during November 2024. You can find out what we heard from our community by reading the Engagement Summary below.

We asked our community to view our draft Tree Management Policy and tell us what you thought of the draft policy and if you had any comments and feedback you would like to provide about the document.

We received 22 responses to the feedback survey and three online questions / submissions relating to the engagement. The feedback received regarding suggestions or commentary about improving the policy, was varied and mostly related to specific principles within the draft policy. You can view a summary of key themes below.

Key themes received through feedback comments:

• Community education

Community education of the benefits of trees is a significant factor in increasing our canopy cover on public and private land. Council has a role in leading community education initiatives and supporting the community to undertake similar works. This shall be a key policy statement in the revised document.

• Noise attenuation

Trees have a role in providing noise attenuation in association with the planting of evergreen shrubs. This shall be a key policy statement in the revised document.

• Tree loss caused by land development

Tree loss due to development on private land is a concern to Council. The recent reform to the South Australian Regulated and Significant Tree legislation reduces the circumference of trees to apply the ‘Regulated’ and ‘Significant’ status, implying that more trees will be protected from removal to accommodate development or otherwise. A summary of these changes can be found here: Frequently asked questions - regulated and significant tree reforms

Where trees under Council’s care and control are removed due to land development, it is proposed that the responsible parties are charged fees to compensate for the tree’s amenity value, arborist reports, removal costs, 2 replacement trees and planning consent (if applicable). Council will endeavour to work with applicants to design alternatives that protect and retain trees to avoid such fees.

• Tree species selection

Tree species selected to be planted by Council include a combination of native, non-native, deciduous and evergreen depending on the context of the planting area, structural form to maintain traffic sight lines (in streets), ability to cope with differing soil characteristics, environmental contamination factors and public acceptance. Every effort is taken to plant tree species indigenous to the area or native species suited to local conditions.

• Solar panels

Council supports and encourages all forms of environmental sustainability, including the use of solar panels, however their use needs to be managed in a balanced manner with trees. Technological advancements do not necessitate full solar exposure throughout the day for optimum energy production. The shade that trees provide also contributes to the cooling of buildings and lowering of air temperatures, resulting in a decreased reliance on energy consumption for air-conditioning. This policy review seeks to include a policy statement that Council will not permit pruning or removal of trees due to shading of roof top panels.

• Other environmental issues

It is not the intent of this policy to address coastal management, introduced fauna species, restoration, or open space provision. These are captured within our environmental strategic documents, of which, many are due for review shortly.

The Tree Management Policy will be updated following feedback received from our community and will be presented to Council for endorsement at a Council Meeting in early 2025.