Page 3044 - Week 07 - Thursday, 7 June 2012
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(6) What will the cost be of implementing Recommendation 10B, Increasing programmed maintenance to achieve TAMS’ goals of 65% (currently 15%) with the addition of two field crews (or equivalent in contractors).
(7) What has been the increase, from the current 15%, of programmed maintenance work to date and has this target figure of 65% be achieved; if not, when will it be achieved.
(8) What progress to date has the Government made in relation to implementing Recommendation 10C.
(9) Where have these plantings occurred to date and what planting are planned in the next 12 months.
(10) What is the reasoning behind not agreeing to Recommendation 6E.
Ms Gallagher: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) Changes associated with the 36 recommendations that were agreed in principle were outlined in the Government’s response to the Report on the Investigation into the Government’s Tree Management Practices and the Renewal of Canberra’s Urban Forest by the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment (CSE) tabled in the Legislative Assembly on 13 February 2012.
(2) Proposed changes to tree management practices in Recommendation 4 of the CSE’s report relating to the decision making process, in particular, have been provided in the Government’s response tabled on 13 February 2012.
(3) (a) To date, the Government has changed its tree management focus from an urban forest renewal approach which strategically looked at ways to manage Canberra’s trees, particularly around issues of senescence, to an approach that focuses on maintenance work aimed at extending the life of all trees. This approach prioritises the tree removal as a last resort.
In addition, TAMS has made significant progress in integrating tree planting and tree removal programs. The changes have also included improved public notification processes which advise the community when trees are to be removed.
(b) In respect to implementing Recommendation 1 of the CSE’s report, the Government’s response was tabled on 13 February 2012.
(4) No agreed timeframe has been set for the implementation of all the planned tree management and practice changes agreed in principle because some recommendations are budget dependent and others are linked to legislative changes. The Government, however reports on progress annually via the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment’s annual report.
(5) An additional budget of $1.15 million was allocated to TAMS for this purpose in 2011-12. Additional funding will be considered in the context of budget considerations and broader government priorities.
(6) The cost of implementing Recommendation 10B has been provided in the Government’s response tabled on 13 February 2012.
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