Common gardening practice that could become illegal for some Aussies
If new proposed by-laws are introduced in this Aussie region, residents will have to jump through multiple hoops just to cut their own trees.
Locals in an outer-city suburb hoping to trim the trees in their own garden may soon face a fine if they carry out the common practice without first seeking council approval, in a new move aimed at "greening" the area.
People living in the Perth suburb of Bassendean, in the city's northeast, might soon need a permit to make any modifications to large trees, in a new push to help the town reach its "canopy coverage target" of 30 per cent.
The Town of Bassendean council tried in February this year to require development approval for the removal of mature trees on private property, but was knocked back by the WA Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage.
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The planning department declared only trees on the town’s significant tree register would require council approval, but in April backflipped on that rule and the council again has proposed it to be an offence to remove or modify trees without authorisation.
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Under the newly-proposed policy, individuals planning any work or development that could impact trees must seek council approval if the trees exceed eight metres in height, or have a canopy of at least six meters wide, and are not classified as weeds.
"Unless removal is approved as part of a subdivision or development approval, or is exempt . . . a regulated tree must be retained in perpetuity and protected," the policy said, the West Australian reported.
Strict criteria if locals wish to modify the trees on their property
According to council, approval won't be needed for work deemed essential for safety or for bushfire management, if a tree was on the town’s unwanted species list or for maintenance pruning — defined as trimming less than 10 per cent of the canopy, and not removing limbs that are more 10 centimetres thick.
Cutting trees in the hope of improving a property's views, if it has dropped too many leaves or for simply disliking it, would not be an acceptable reason under the proposed policy.
Bassendean mayor Kath Hamilton said the whole idea was to make the LGA more green.
"The revised Local Planning Policy 13 underscores the council’s commitment to reflecting the community’s desire to preserve Bassendean’s green, natural character while balancing development with environmental sustainability," Hamilton said.
Locals are being encouraged to voice their opinions on the matter. Yahoo News Australia has contacted The Town of Bassendean council with regard to the next steps with the plans, and the value of the proposed fines.
Canopy targets across Australia
Canopy targets are in place across much of Australia as both state and local governments work to minimise the impacts of climate change and urbanisation. For example in NSW, the government has set a target to increase tree canopy cover across Greater Sydney to 40 per cent, from where it currently stands at approximately 22 per cent.
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