Draft Local Planning Policy 39 – Tree Retention and LPP45 - Tree Planting for Non-Residential Development

Trees on private land in urban areas provide significant social, economic, and environmental benefits to the community. The Town has prepared two local planning policies to protect and encourage the retention and planting of trees on private land, Draft Local Planning Policy – Tree Retention (LPP39) and Draft Local Planning Policy 45 – Tree Planting for Non-Residential Development (LPP45).

Draft LPP39 – Tree Retention

This policy requires development approval for the removal or damage to any tree on private property which is classified as a Regulated Tree. A Regulated Tree is a tree that meets one or more of the following criteria:

  1. Has a height of 8.0m or more.

  1. Has an average canopy diameter of at least 6.0m.

  1. Has a trunk circumference of at least 1.5m, measured 1.4m above the ground.

  1. Is of a species that is not included on State or local weed register.

Removal or damage to a Regulated Tree which is urgently necessary for public safety or simply for maintenance pruning purposes is proposed to be exempt from requiring development approval.

The draft policy provides guidance on how development applications for the removal or damage to a Regulated Tree will be assessed and determined. Matters to be given regard in decision making include:

  • The health, maturity, species and location of the tree

  • Possible safety risks due to limb failure and any potential infrastructure and/or structural damage associated with retaining the tree

  • The location of the tree within the development site and capacity for a modified building design or subdivision to maximise tree retention.

The following reasons for removing trees will generally not be supported:

  • Impacts on views

  • The tree species is disliked or cause nuisance from leaf litter

  • The tree overshadows private gardens, solar panels or swimming pools

  • Allergies


Draft LPP45 – Tree Planting for Non-Residential Development

The Town recognises that trees being planted on private land as part of non-residential development is an integral requirement to achieving the Town’s objectives to increase town wide tree canopy coverage.  

This policy outlines the requirements for the rate of trees to be planted as part of non-residential development.

The revised policy proposes to increase the number of trees required to be planted in car parks from 1 tree for every 4 car bays, to 1 tree for every 2 car bays.


Share your thoughts

Feedback on the proposed revised policy is invited from all community members until 5pm Thursday 19 December 2024. Feedback can be submitted in a number of ways:


Trees on private land in urban areas provide significant social, economic, and environmental benefits to the community. The Town has prepared two local planning policies to protect and encourage the retention and planting of trees on private land, Draft Local Planning Policy – Tree Retention (LPP39) and Draft Local Planning Policy 45 – Tree Planting for Non-Residential Development (LPP45).

Draft LPP39 – Tree Retention

This policy requires development approval for the removal or damage to any tree on private property which is classified as a Regulated Tree. A Regulated Tree is a tree that meets one or more of the following criteria:

  1. Has a height of 8.0m or more.

  1. Has an average canopy diameter of at least 6.0m.

  1. Has a trunk circumference of at least 1.5m, measured 1.4m above the ground.

  1. Is of a species that is not included on State or local weed register.

Removal or damage to a Regulated Tree which is urgently necessary for public safety or simply for maintenance pruning purposes is proposed to be exempt from requiring development approval.

The draft policy provides guidance on how development applications for the removal or damage to a Regulated Tree will be assessed and determined. Matters to be given regard in decision making include:

  • The health, maturity, species and location of the tree

  • Possible safety risks due to limb failure and any potential infrastructure and/or structural damage associated with retaining the tree

  • The location of the tree within the development site and capacity for a modified building design or subdivision to maximise tree retention.

The following reasons for removing trees will generally not be supported:

  • Impacts on views

  • The tree species is disliked or cause nuisance from leaf litter

  • The tree overshadows private gardens, solar panels or swimming pools

  • Allergies


Draft LPP45 – Tree Planting for Non-Residential Development

The Town recognises that trees being planted on private land as part of non-residential development is an integral requirement to achieving the Town’s objectives to increase town wide tree canopy coverage.  

This policy outlines the requirements for the rate of trees to be planted as part of non-residential development.

The revised policy proposes to increase the number of trees required to be planted in car parks from 1 tree for every 4 car bays, to 1 tree for every 2 car bays.


Share your thoughts

Feedback on the proposed revised policy is invited from all community members until 5pm Thursday 19 December 2024. Feedback can be submitted in a number of ways:


Page last updated: 22 Nov 2024, 03:52 PM