Page 354 - Week 01 - Thursday, 16 February 2012
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The commissioner’s terms of reference were wide ranging and reported on the scope and efficiency of any enhancements that may be required to the government’s existing tree management programs; the benefits and drawbacks of considering funding for urban tree programs separately to climate change initiatives; improved notification and consultation processes to support greater community involvement in urban tree planning and management, including risk mitigation, tree removal and planting; the priority given in tree management decisions to environmental values, solar access and the retention of communities of trees in parks; the sustainable reuse of timber from felled trees, and when replanting should occur following the removal of trees, the scope for replanting, and principles for the number and species of trees that should be replanted; the need for enhanced management to maintain the survival and good health of trees; appropriate safeguards to ensure contractors follow best practice and adhere to government tree policies; principles for the decision-making process where it is proposed that a tree is removed or is retained; improvements to the Tree Protection Act or other relevant acts in light of the above matters; and resource implications associated with an enhanced program.
The commissioner’s report was publically released on 30 March 2011 and tabled in the Assembly on 7 April. I am pleased to say there is broad support across government agencies for the report’s findings, with agreement or agreement in principle to 40 of its 44 recommendations and subrecommendations.
The prime focus of the commissioner’s report is to direct attention to improving the care and protection of Canberra’s treed landscape. More specifically, the recommendations include improving tree assessment criteria and training for people undertaking tree-related work; improved monitoring and reporting of tree conditions to allow for early detection of tree maintenance issues; a proactive, integrated urban tree maintenance program where work is scheduled according to priority for safety and amenity; and a national capital tree protection and management strategy which will include the NCA.
In response to recommendation 4A, the government supports the establishment of a tree curator for the ACT with overall responsibility for tree-related issues across Canberra’s built-up urban areas. The government also supports recommendation 5C for a cross-agency tree network committee that will bring people that make decisions about tree-related matters into a forum where planning decisions can be discussed and debated, with a focus on tree retention.
The commissioner’s recommendations are generally based on the premise of maximising environmental benefits as opposed to optimising or balancing them with social and economic outcomes within resource constraints and whole-of-government policies. For example, the principle of saving every tree is considered to be neither practical nor affordable.
The report highlights the need to improve communications and community engagement but does not address the need for more innovative and collaborative strategies and approaches for working with the community, especially with vocal interest groups and individuals. It is considered that choices need to be made in
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