Page 5403 - Week 14 - Thursday, 19 November 2009

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number of incidents reported to the Department where damage to private property was caused by falling trees or falling branches. The data does not include details of the kind of damage caused by fallen branches nor statistics on fallen branches that did not cause damage.

The total number of all tree related claim inquiries for the period March 2006 – October 2009 is 1067.

Public Inquiries - Tree Related Claims for Fallen Branch/tree caused damage to property

(IAMS Data from March 2006 to October 2009)

2. The Conservator would need to be consulted in the event that tree management was planned to be undertaken for a registered tree.

3. The number of trees removed annually under the capital works funded Tree Replacement Program varies. The 2008/09 program involves the removal of 282 trees of varying sizes.

A range of factors are taken into consideration as a total by suitably skilled persons before a decision to remove a tree is made:

• the species of tree;

• the health of each tree;

• the presence and extent of die back;

• presence and type of structural defects;

• presence of fungal decay;

• presence of hollows;

• the location of each tree and whether and the likely consequences should the tree fall or shed substantial branches;

• landscape contribution.

Each of these factors is assessed against weighted criteria and a recommendation is made regarding the treatment of each tree.

Wherever appropriate, tree maintenance will be undertaken to make a tree safe but sometimes removal is necessary to ensure public safety.

4. No. Street and parkland trees are removed because they have been assessed as being dead, unsafe, structurally deficient or in poor condition and where pruning is not a viable option. If considered feasible, they are pruned and retained.

5. Trees are currently managed on an individual basis. Maintenance work is timed to occur on streets where a number of trees require management and urban parks in order to increase the efficiency of work teams. The tree replacement program targets streets and parks where a number of trees have been identified as being in need of replacement. This program does not consider the management of trees on a regional or a neighbourhood basis.

A more strategic approach is being considered by Government which will include the management and maintenance of urban trees on a neighbourhood, street or park level basis depending on the outcomes of community consultation. Trees will continue to

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