TREE canopy may soon look a little different in Hornsby Shire.
Mayor Warren Waddell has suggested that a review of planning controls to maintain tree and vegetation protections is needed.
In a mayoral minute considered in the upcoming 12 March general meeting of Council, Waddell notes that with recent severe weather, falling trees have been dangerous for homes, schools, and public pathways.
‘While the preservation of our urban forest remains paramount, these events serve as a stark reminder that public safety must also be a guiding principle in our decision-making,’ states the mayoral minute.
Waddell outlines that property owners should be empowered to manage tree safety on their own land and take proactive steps to mitigate risk.
‘We need to support residents by providing them with guidance on recognising signs of declining tree health — such as dead branches, fungal growth, or structural instability, as well as enabling them to undertake simple maintenance measures, like trimming overhanging branches and removing deadwood,’ says Waddell in the published minute.
Recommendations put forth by Waddell include reviewing planning controls, a public awareness and education program on the benefits of tree canopy, a tree planting program, options for improving Council’s proactive management of public trees, and consultation and feedback from community.
With the public display of the mayoral minute, Ruddock has joined forces with the independent candidate for Berowra, Tina Brown, calling for the bushland to be protected.
‘I do not want to see Berowra turned into another overdeveloped suburb at the expense of the bushland that defines us,’ said Ruddock in a release. ‘We must stand firm in protecting our natural heritage and ensure that any decisions made about its future are done with full transparency and in the best interests of the people who live here and for the future generations who will call it home.’
The public spoke to the minute during the 12 March meeting. Speakers included members of the Hornsby Conservation Society, Friends of Berowra Valley, Protecting Your Suburban Environment, Galston Area Residents Association, and the Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust. A common theme in their submissions was the value of the tree canopy, and how many believed the protections strengthened by former mayor the Honourable Philip Ruddock were sufficient.
The mayoral minute and its recommendations were carried unanimously, except for Councillor Nathan Tilbury, who was absent.
