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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 5 Hansard (9 May) . . Page.. 1273 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

In relation to other issues addressed by the committee, I do not think that the issue of protection of trees on building sites was adequately addressed. Firstly, there is the issue of whether the presence of trees on a development site is adequately taken into account in the design of the building going on the site and whether the development approval procedures in PALM are sufficient to assess the value of trees. Once construction work commences, the inclusion of a tree on a register or protected under a TPO is useless if they end up being damaged or killed by building work going on around them. It is not just a question of putting a fence around the tree, as currently occurs on some building sites. This practice has to be extended to all building sites and there has to be adequate checking to ensure that root systems are not disturbed or the soil around the tree compacted. Perhaps bonds should be placed on developers to cover any damage done to trees on the site.

There is much detail that needs to be sorted out about how the recommendations of this inquiry will be implemented. I am worried that the longer it takes to get a tree protection regime in place, the more trees will be removed in the interim. There may be lots of trees in Canberra, but Canberra is reaching an age where redevelopment of the original buildings is now occurring and many original tree plantings are being lost.

In the newer suburbs we are also losing many of the remnant native trees as residential subdivision expands into former rural areas and patches of remaining woodland. Of course, it is possible to plant new trees, but there is a big difference between a mature tree and a seedling. It has to be remembered that trees not only have a value in themselves but also provide habitat to many other creatures who cannot wait around until a new tree grows.

I would therefore urge the government to move quickly in preparing its response to this report so that we can get on with saving some trees.

MR SMYTH (Minister for Urban Services) (12.34): Mr Speaker, the government accepts the report from the committee. The Urban Services and Planning Committee is clearly one of the hard-working committees of the Assembly. This is report No 44, and we will get to another three reports today that they have been working on. I thank the committee for their work. The government will respond in time.

Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, I was going to adjourn the debate.

Mr Humphries: Just pass the motion.

MR SPEAKER: Just pass the motion. The government has to come back with a response.

Mr Humphries: We will have the debate when the response comes back.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

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