Parks, Playgrounds & Trees

Tree Protection

Council is responsible for the planting and maintenance of all street and park trees on land managed by the City of Port Phillip. Council also has a role in the protection of significant trees on private property.

Residents are responsible for ensuring that pedestrian access to paths and traffic sight lines are not impeded by trees and vegetation on their property. Residents are also required to seek permission to remove significant trees from their property. Residents are encouraged to assist council in the management of the urban forest through planting trees that are appropriate to the site conditions on their property, by adopting a tree to water in their nature strip and by reporting acts of tree vandalism.

Significant Trees

When is a Significant Tree Permit required?

Apply for a Significant Tree Permit - Significant tree page

Under the Community Amenity Local Law No.3, a significant tree is defined as

(a) a tree on private land with a trunk circumference greater than 1.5 metres when measured 1 metre from its base; or

(b) a multi-stemmed tree on private land where the circumference of its exterior stems equals or is greater than 1.5 metres when measured 1 metre from its base.

If you want to remove a significant tree or to cut, trim, prune or anything else which may result in the health of the significant tree being compromised, a permit from Council must be obtained.

For more information or to apply for a significant tree permit - Significant Tree Page

Tree policy statement : tree protection

Trees on council owned and managed land shall be protected from construction works and other activities at all times with an objective to reduce the negative impacts of construction on council owned and managed trees.

The conflicting requirements of trees and infrastructure maintenance or enhancements will be minimised where possible.

View the - Tree policy statements and actions chart : Tree Protection

Policy Statement

Action

Protection of significant tree

The City of Port Phillip values all trees within its boundaries and will seek to protect all trees in the public realm and significant trees in the private realm.

Review the City of Port Phillip definition of a significant tree and develop a significant tree register for the public realm. ( YR1 )

Review and where appropriate update the existing local law to ensure the protection of trees in the private realm. ( YR1 )

Enforce tree protection guidelines and include information on the tree protection guidelines in all planning, building and event permit applications. ( ONG )

Vandalised trees

Following any vandalism to trees including illegal tree removal, wilful damage or tree poisoning the site will be assessed for a site specific response and the community notified of the illegal activity.

If a tree is vandalised the following actions will occur:

Communication with the affected residents
Report vandalism to police
Erect signage subject to safety requirements
Vandalised trees may be left in-situ
Replacement planting will be considered on a site by site basis ( ONG )

Protection of trees from development and events

The City of Port Phillip will give existing trees priority when considering applications for new development.

Undertake tree protection activities as per the City of Port Phillip Tree Management Technical Guidelines.
( ONG )

Enforce tree protection guidelines for development applications as per the City of Port Phillip Tree Management Technical Guidelines. ( ONG )

The City of Port Phillip will ensure that the location of event infrastructure and temporary structures will not damage trees.

Enforce tree protection guidelines for events and capital works projects as per the City of Port Phillip Tree Management Technical Guidelines. ( ONG )

Review and modify where appropriate the current process for tree protection during planning applications for development or construction to ensure that trees are protected as a priority. ( ONG )

Protection of trees from overhead powerlines and Utilities

The City of Port Phillip will seek to minimise the impact of pruning to the tree canopy within the legislative clearance requirements.

Undertake annual and 2.5 year pruning programs to meet legislative clearance requirements. ( ONG)

All pruning will be undertaken to the Australian Standard AS4373- 2007 Pruning of Amenity Trees.(ONG)

The City of Port Phillip will work with authorities to minimise the impact of public infrastructure on tree health and amenity.

Encourage Energy Safe Victoria to provide alternatives such as aerial bundling to above ground powerlines when power line conductors are being upgraded. (ONG)

Work with the Power line Relocation Committee to identify opportunities for undergrounding or relocating powerlines to increase the opportunity for maximising tree canopy cover. (ONG)

For more information about tree maintenance, pruning zones and pruning schedules for street trees refer to the tree management page

Corroboree Tree

This river red gum is thought to be over 300 years old, and one of the oldest remanent trees in the Port Phillip area. The tree is significant for it’s use as a corroboree tree and gathering place by indigenous communities residing in the area before and after European colonisation.

Located in Albert Park reserve near Junction oval on the corner of Fitzroy Street and Queens Road St Kilda, the corroboree tree is surrounded by native grasses and plantings and a small wetland area.

For more information contact Parks Victoria

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