Call to action for tree law change to support Adelaide’s bid to become a National Park City

The city’s “phenomenal” loss of old trees must stop if it’s to realise a dream of winning a rare international honour, experts say.

The state’s tree laws need to change if Adelaide is serious about becoming a National Park City, experts say.

Through consultation with arborists and council workers, as well as lawyers, landscape architects and ecologists, the state’s peak environment body has worked out how to fix problems with the regulations.

Conservation SA chief executive Craig Wilkins said the government had failed to address the “phenomenal loss of old trees, and a National Park City without big trees is just a city”.

“Adelaide already has the worst tree canopy cover of all the capital cities in Australia, yet we have most to lose as heatwaves cook our streets during summer,” he said.

“Considering how important trees are for our wellbeing, and how fast we are losing them, this is a crisis which only urgent law reform will fix.”

The “Call to Action” Plan for Protecting Adelaide’s Tree Canopy lists changes required to address tree loss.

These include removing many of the exemptions such as those for trees within 10m of an existing dwelling or 20m in higher bushfire risk areas.

Chief Executive of the Conservation Council of SA Craig Wilkins. Picture: Mark Brake

Green Adelaide took part in the workshops and chairman Chris Daniels said he was “very concerned about tree canopy”.

“The loss of trees from the leafy suburbs is a problem, especially as backyards disappear, although this is offset by an increasing tree canopy as urban development spreads over the farm lands in the south,” he said.

“The north western suburbs remain a challenge.”

Local Government Association of SA president Angela Evans said councils invested millions of dollars every year providing open space, parks and gardens and supported the State Government’s target of increasing urban green cover by 20 per cent in metropolitan Adelaide by 2045.

“However, we are concerned that a relaxing of planning requirements over the last few decades has allowed the removal and reduction of trees on private property, especially through infill development,” she said.

While the LGA welcomed the requirements in the new Planning and Design Code for developers to plant trees, Ms Evans said she says worried that the government’s Urban Tree Canopy Cover Offset scheme made it easier and cheaper for developers to pay a small amount into a fund in lieu of planting new trees and has sought a review after six and 12 months of operation.

Environment Minister David Speirs said the State Planning Commission was currently reviewing the state’s open space and treespolicy and regulations and would provide further advice.

GLOBAL SHOWCASE OF OUR ECO-FRIENDLY CITY

Green Adelaide is searching for enthusiastic locals with environmental credentials to spruik Adelaide’s vision for a National Park City.

Up to 25 people of all ages and diverse backgrounds will be chosen to prerecord short videos for a virtual summit on July 20-21 at the National Park City Festival.

Cities such as Manila, Glasgow and Galway are all vying for the title.

Environment Minister David Speirs said the summit was a significant opportunity to help strengthen Adelaide’s position.

Clover Green Space director Craig Lovering at Majestic M Suites on Tynte Street, North Adelaide. The Hotel has a very large green wall at the entrance that he worked on as a landscape architect and designer. Picture: Sarah Reed

“This is our chance to share the stage with people from around the world, and demonstrate why Adelaide should become the world’s second, and Australia’s first, National Park City,” he said.

Green Adelaide chairman Professor Chris Daniels said individuals, community groups, businesses, and non-government or government organisations were sought “to help showcase the grassroots actions already underway in greening our city – to prove that we deserve the title”.

Clover Green Space director Craig Lovering says his team, and landscape architects generally, were great advocates for greening the urban environment.

“We share these values and fight for the integration of green elements, to assist with mental health and wellbeing, and to mitigate the effects of climate change and a warming environment,” he said. “We’re passionate about preserving nature and incorporating greening into where people are living, and try to create a better quality of life.”

Successful candidates will be asked to appear in their own two-minute video showcasing their activity and how it contributes to making Adelaide a National Park City.

Expressions of interest can be emailed to [e-mail] by Wednesday July 14.