Pittwater Life July 2023 Issue

Tree Canopy Plan ‘lacks
News
Council is seeking community
feedback on its
plan to increase and
preserve tree canopy across
the Northern Beaches, ensuring
it remains one of the largest
tree canopies in Greater
Sydney.
The Draft Northern Beaches
Tree Canopy Plan proposes
a range of measures including
the protection of trees on
public land, better monitoring
of the tree canopy across the
local government area (LGA),
strengthening the local planning
frameworks to support
the retention, protection,
replacement, and growth of
private trees, and increasing
community involvement in
greening our communities.
Currently the Northern
Beaches boasts 37% canopy
cover – just short of the State
Government target of 40%.
Measures to hit the target
include planting 5,000
trees per year for 20 years
on Council-managed land
PROTECTION: Council’s draft plan
includes an Iconic Tree Register
mapping public land.
and developing tree canopy
masterplans for priority areas
that are currently or emerging
as vulnerable, high heat
indexed and low canopy locations
– including Mona Vale,
Narrabeen and Warriewood.
A key feature of the plan
is the implementation of
an ‘Iconic Tree Register’ for
public land.
The draft plan also provides
for an audit of trees
in priority areas; measuring
tree canopy cover every four
years; and strengthening the
Local Environment Plan and
Development Control Plans to
focus on retention and protection
of tree canopy.
Council said it intends to
continue to investigate and
act upon unauthorised activities
that impact on the tree
canopy, such as illegal vegetation
clearing, unauthorised
recreational trails and other
environmental damage.
Also, it wants to promote
the importance of retention
and protection of trees
as part of the development
application and tree removal
process.
Environmental group
Canopy Keepers welcomed
Council’s draft plan’s proposals
but wants greater recognition
and protection of
‘communities of trees’ as well
as the naming and inclusion
of ‘threatened ecological communities’
(TECs).
“There are 28 category
types of TEC across the
Northern Beaches, including
Wagstaff Spotted Gum Forests
and Littoral Rainforests –
these ecosystems require protection,
street markers and an
urgent awareness campaign,”
said Canopy Keepers spokeswoman
Deborah Collins.
The group also wants to
see a new focus given to the
awareness and survival of
endangered wildlife.
“Tree canopy is essential
for wildlife habitat, most
notably tree hollows,” said Ms
Collins.
“Intact canopies offer
wildlife corridors essential
for wildlife to travel between
food and water sources. Tree
hollows and wildlife corridors
need to be stand-alone
criteria when assessing new
re-zoning protocols and/or
tree removal permits.
“And fauna protection stud-
12 JULY 2023
The Local Voice Since 1991