Parks, Playgrounds & Trees
Tree Removal and Replacement
Tree establishment in the urban environment
The urban forest is subject to a variety of pressures, local climate conditions, varying soil types, soil compaction, variances in soil moisture and vandalism, which may effect establishment and optimum growth of individual trees.
Many trees on streets situated close to the foreshore in Port Phillip have to contend with salt spray and salty soils and these conditions preclude many tree species from thriving.
Careful choice of tree species is required to ensure minimum tree loss over time.
Detailed site assessment is required for all street tree and park planting to determine local site
conditions and minimise the establishment issues.
Above : example of damage to infrastructure by an inapropriate species of street tree.
A phased removal and replacement program was undertaken to replace The Hills fig trees in Clifford Street & Harper Court, The Crescent, Swallow Street and Beacon Vista, Port Melbourne.
For more information about phased tree removal and replacement programs - visit the Port Melbourne Fig Tree Removal page
Resident Request Process - Tree Removals
The City of Port Phillip will investigate all tree management options prior to the recommendation for tree removal wherever possible. There are circumstances where tree removal is required in nature strips, parks and reserves and other council managed land to protect human health and safety, infrastructure, facilitate approved development and infrastructure improvements, maintain a healthy urban forest, or for ecological restoration.
Download - Tree Removal Process
Q: What is the process for having a street tree removed and replaced that I think is dangerous
or dying?
A: Contact ASSIST on 9209 6777 and provide the location and details of the issue. A tree removal request will be generated for assessment by council’s arborist. A condition report is produced and presented to the Tree Removal Assessment Panel (TRAP) for approval. If removal is approved, tree and stump will be scheduled for removal and the residents proximate to the tree shall be notified. If removal is not approved the requestor will be
advised in writing.
Q: What is the process if a tree is hanging low over a pedestrian footpath from private property?
A: Contact ASSIST on 9209 6777 and provide the location and details of the issue. A local laws officer will contact property owners to undertake the pruning in a specified timeframe.
Q: What is the process if I think the street trees need pruning?
A: Contact ASSIST on 9209 6777 and a street tree maintenance request will be generated and directed to council’s tree maintenance contractor for action. All pruning is undertaken according to the appropriate Australian Standards and/or contract specification. Should further pruning be necessary it will require approval from council’s arborist.
For more information on Tree Pruning - refer to the tree management page
Managing an aging population of trees
The City of Port Phillip has approximately 20% of roads and road sections that contain mature to over-mature trees – trees that are reaching the end of their useful life span.
All avenues and stands of trees have a finite lifespan and at some point in time trees need to be removed and replaced. As trees age they require more and more management to maintain them in a safe and attractive condition. Consequently, a difficult decision has to be made about how to manage mature avenues, including how, when and over what period of time to replace old or declining trees.
Useful life expectancy (ULE) is not the biological life expectancy of a given tree species. ULE relates to how long a tree can be usefully retained within a given site with consideration to the trees condition, aesthetics, management inputs, and risk management.
Figure 7 illustrates the relationship between the time since planting a tree and the aesthetic and functional benefits returned compared to management costs. Once costs exceed benefits, perceived usefulness is reduced.
A number of different methods and alternatives for replacing trees that are declining are available.
These include:
- Replace each tree as it dies or becomes dangerous
- Remove and replant the entire stand or avenue of trees
- Use a phased removal strategy, removing and replacing trees over an extended period of time
- Plant a new row of trees, outside or in-between the line of the existing row of trees, and remove the latter when the new row of trees is established
- Remove and replant in smaller manageable sections, over regular time intervals.
Significant reductions of mature trees would not be generally considered as good practice or acceptable as this would have a negative impact on social, cultural, environmental and economic values. It is also not good practice to artificially keep trees in a position that they are clearly unsuitable for, as this can lead to infrastructure damage, reduced tree health or conflict in the community. Good management will strive to achieve the right tree for the site and seek to avoid practices that adversely affect tree health.
Tree policy statement - Tree removal and replacement
The City of Port Phillip seeks to avoid tree removal wherever possible. There are circumstances, however, in which tree removal is an acceptable management option.
Tree removal may occur for human health and safety, to protect infrastructure, to facilitate approved development and infrastructure improvements, to maintain a healthy urban forest or for ecological restoration
Tree Policy Statement |
Action |
Tree assessment process |
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All tree management options will be investigated prior to the removal of a tree/s.
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Tree removal will only be approved if there are no other viable options. ( ONG ) Removal of dead trees will be undertaken as part of the regular tree maintenance program as per the City of Port Phillip Tree Management Technical Guidelines. ( ONG ) When trees are removed for development the amenity valuation charged is used to plant trees in the area surrounding the development (Refer 6.6). ( ONG )
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Trees will be removed in a timely manner where they no longer contribute to the streetscape due to poor health or condition. |
Identify and strategically replace senescent trees that no longer contribute to the amenity of streetscapes and/or park. ( ONG ) |
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The City of Port Phillip commits to a fair, equitable and transparent appeals and reinspection process.
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Council will consult and inform the community about proposed tree removal in accordance with the City of Port Phillip Tree Management Technical Guidelines. ( ONG ) The appeals process will be undertaken in accordance with the City of Port Phillip Tree Management Technical Guidelines. ( ONG ) |
Tree Replacement |
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| Replacement of trees that have to be removed due to tree death, poor health or risk to people or infrastructure, will be undertaken as a priority. | Schedule replacement planting of trees removed due to tree death, poor health or risk to people and infrastructure as part of the tree removal process. ( ONG ) |
| The City of Port Phillip will ensure that the best green outcome is obtained if a tree is removed for development. | Every effort will be made to replace and increase tree canopy cover lost when a tree is removed due to development. The number and type of replacement trees planted will be chosen to suit the site and maximise tree canopy cover ( ONG ) |
Emergency situations |
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| Trees will be removed should they pose a risk to public safety. | Trees will be removed on the same work day as notification is received for immediately hazardous trees. ( ONG ) |
More information
Port Melbourne Fig Tree Removals
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