Waverley Council tree policy: Tree conservation plan divides eastern suburbs council

A plan to protect the leafy environment of Sydney’s eastern suburbs by stopping residents from pruning or removing trees taller than 3m could have the opposite effect, some councillors say.

A plan to protect the leafy environment of Sydney’s eastern suburbs by stopping residents from pruning or removing trees taller than 3m could have the opposite effect, some councillors say.

As part of proposed changes to Waverley Council’s development control plan (DCP) and tree management guidelines, council approval would be needed to prune or remove a tree on private property which is more than 3m tall in canopy height or canopy size.

The planned changes is to “better protect the existing conditions across Waverley”, council documents state.

However, Liberal councillor Angela Burrill told the Wentworth Courier informing people they will need a permit to alter trees over three metres was an “unreasonable impost on our residents.”

Cr Burrill said the planned changes which could see a fee charged to cut trees would discourage residents from helping to grow and maintain the tree canopy, which had remained relatively stable under the current policies.

Liberal councillor Angela Burrill thinks the new policy will cause red tape ‘fatigue’ for residents.

“Suddenly a whole lot more trees in their garden are going to be affected by this,” she said.

Fellow Liberal councillor Tony Kay told a recent council meeting he feared residents would ignore the new conditions rather than regularly complete applications for tree permits, which could increase council compliance work.

Bronte resident Stephen Lightfoot believes council should be encouraging tree preservation.

Stephen Lightfoot, a doctor and leader of the eastern Sydney branch of the Australian Conservation Foundation, told the Wentworth Courier he wasn’t across the specifics of council’s proposed changes but said any policy which could make it harder for residents to grow trees in their gardens was “concerning.”

“It’s really important that in our cities, we have a mature tree canopy which provides us with shade and counteracts the heat effects of cities … and also provides habitat for all the biodiversity of our city,” he said.

Another proposed change to the DCP would give council powers to stop new trees blocking existing views and require the regular pruning of trees which had been previously cut back.

The change – which has been endorsed by Vaucluse and Dover Heights precinct representatives – will be voted on following community feedback.

View of harbour from Vaucluse.

A Waverley Council spokesman said the proposed change would ultimately protect the existing tree canopy by disincentivizing cutting down trees, with the shift based on the state government’s standard.

“To protect our established trees, council voted to allow an amendment to introduce vegetation clearing permits from trees of 5m in height and spread to 3m in height,” the spokesman said.

The conflict over how to preserve mature trees in the eastern suburbs comes amid a fight by Rose Bay’s Royal Sydney Golf Club at Land & Environment Court to win approval to cut down around 600 trees to undertake extensive upgrades.

Community activists and some Woollahra councillors have argued the loss of mature trees will contribute to loss of wildlife and increased flood risk in the low-lying areas of Rose Bay and North Bondi.

Council will vote on the amended draft DCP after community consultation closes on September 19.