Gayle Dallaston’s Post

Any public footpaths need to meet the AS1428.1 2021 and should follow Aus Roads Guide to Road Design Part 6A: Paths for Walking and Cycling. They need to be maintained free from any obstruction and obstacles, including overgrown grass and tree and shrub branches to ensure safe disability access. There is also a need to provide footpaths in suburban areas for pedestrian use and access.

Why doesn't the council plant more street trees? It was a brief conversation, two strangers filling in silences with polite conversation. It started with the weather and the crazy hot summer we’ve had. “We need more street trees to reduce the heat”, I said. “And reduce skin cancer.” I thought that would resonate with a health professional. A nod, and then that question: "Why doesn't the council just plant more street trees then?" My answer: Because many residents refuse to have one in front of their property and if the council plants them anyway, they usually die or disappear. Surprise, bemusement. “It might help if they planted nicer trees.” I have had countless variations of that conversation. More recently, environmental advocates talking about urban heat and walkability have joined the chorus. We need more trees for shade and cooling in our cities, so the councils should plant more street trees. Simple! The responsibility, and blame, for our treeless streets and verges is directed at councils. If it were that simple, it would have been done long ago. I agree councils are the best ones to plant and maintain street trees. That is standard policy and most councils are working to increase tree canopy. But they can’t do it alone. They can’t turn tree-refusers into tree-lovers... This is the trunk of my street tree. It’s a beautiful tree (Lophostemon confertus) even if my tree-refusing neighbour disagrees. A native verge garden around a tree is transformational. From a tree point of view, it thrives in all that ever-increasing biodiversity with its base protected from grass and mowing equipment and wind. The leaf litter caught in the understory contributes to the garden creating its own mulch. Read the rest and join the conversation at https://lnkd.in/gZVXA2Rg

Homeowners rally together to change law that lets HOAs rule neighborhoods with an iron fist: ‘That’s a bigger fight’ By Laurelle Stelle via Yahoo News Wed, August 23, 2023 A group of homeowners in Virginia is trying to change state law to protect their right to install environmentally-friendly landscaping on their property, according to a recent Reddit post recruiting users for the project. The post appeared in r/NativePlantGardening, a community dedicated to landscaping with local plants adapted to the area where they grow. It quickly spread to another community showcasing the problems with homeowner’s associations (HOAs) because the two issues overlap. HOAs often stand in the way when residents want to make their homes and gardens more eco-friendly. While native plants are cheap and easy to maintain thanks to their low water needs and good for the environment because they feed pollinators, they’re also a deviation from the suburban standard of a flat turf grass lawn — and HOAs tend to push back. That was the problem Janet and Jeff Crouch were up against when they wanted to keep growing wildflowers in their yard. Fortunately, the two succeeded in a legal challenge against their HOA, changing Maryland state law to protect their right to grow native plants. Now Nature Forward (formerly known as the Audubon Naturalist Society) and Virginia resident Melinda Soltys want to do the same in Virginia, according to the survey shared in this Reddit post. “Nature Forward is excited to partner with local Virginia advocate Melinda Soltys to advocate for a change in Virginia state law to ensure community associations cannot prevent homeowners from installing more environmentally friendly, low-impact landscaping,” the group said. Full story: https://lnkd.in/e7-eVgzw

🌧️🌱 We installed these Rain Garden #SuDS more than 2 years ago and they are still looking lush, all thanks to the incredible #community dedicated to their #maintenance. 🌿🤝 We understand that budget constraints can make maintenance a challenge. This is why we emphasise the significance of community engagement. We believe that shared responsibility and community support are the keys to sustaining the beauty and functionality of these spaces, even in the face of budget constraints. 🌱💧 Our first #SuDS scheme in the London Borough of Waltham Forest was installed in October 2021. This was the first phase of many across the borough, aiding in the reduction of #flooding, as well as bringing #nature to people's doorstep. Local residents and schools played a crucial role by actively participating in the planting process and gaining insights into the species, and the importance the rain gardens have on their homes. Additionally, the borough was also working closely with the residents to assign gardening 'stewards' responsible for the gardens' future care. #CommunityEngagement #SuDS #RainGardens #Sustainability #NatureInTheCity #WalthamForest  #RainGardens  #CommunityTransformation #RainGarden #FloodPrevention #CommunityResilience #ClimateAction #Biophilia #BiophilicDesign #Community #UrbanGreening #RainGardens #CommunityTransformation #FloodPrevention #Biophilia #ClimateAction #UrbanGreening 

A recent Ontario Superior Court decision throws some shade in the right to a natural garden. Let’s be clear that the protection and recovery of native biodiversity is a human right and the best defence against climate change. It is also a global and local priority. Our research at the Ecological Design Lab @TMU shows that natural gardening and urban rewilding is a groundswell: a growing movement of #BylawsForBiodiversity to make spaces and places for nature at home, in our yards, gardens and shared lots. Let’s make sure that everyone benefits from the right to a biodiverse future. #biodiversity #ClimateResilience #Gardens #Planning #UrbanEcology #UrbanBiodiversity #NaturalGardens #BylawsForBiodiversity https://lnkd.in/g53tig9Z

Adelaide’s best kept Secret revealed as part of the new Significant tree’s legislation. Significant trees the cause of a frustrated twitching eye in every builder and Developer. The process of dealing with significant trees, including their removal and the associated exclusions, is a major challenge for many developers and builders. The implementation of new regulations aimed at safeguarding Adelaide's tree canopy by the South Australian government has raised concerns within the building community. News release: https://lnkd.in/gw6egYeN The recent changes involve a reduction in the measurement threshold for significant trees from 2 meters to one meter, as well as a decrease in the removal zone to three meters. This means that a tree with a circumference of one meter or more can now be considered significant even if it is 3.1 meters away from a property's foundations. A basic rule of thumb for tree influence on the footings is the height of the tree times 1.5 this provides the lateral influence of the root system from the trunk. That might be a bit old school. However, I believe it stands up with what I have seen on sites. If the tree stands 5 meters high, its influence spans 7.5 meters. The shrinking size requirements, reduced distance from properties, and the inclusion of additional tree species are expected to exacerbate the challenges faced by developers in infill and greenfield sites. Surprisingly, there is now, and has already been legislated a fee that can be paid to remove a protected tree, which could cost builders and developers as little as $1000. This fee contributes to either the local council tree fund or the state government's planning and development fund, aimed at tree planting and conservation efforts. The Plan SA website states new rules to protect Adelaide's tree canopy coming in to affect immediately – ‘Fees for destroying or removing protected trees will also increase, better reflecting the cost of tree replacement. Offset fees for a regulated tree increase from $326 to $1000 and from $489 to $1500 for a significant tree.’ Plan SA: https://lnkd.in/gDYfHCpU   This is Adelaide’s best kept secret! I do not know a builder or developer that would not joyfully pay a fee of $326 - $489 (or up to $1000 in the new legislation) to remove a tree that significantly affects the development or the viability of a development. Please comment, has this payment option got caught up in the local council quagmire or if this payment is an avenue that has been used? What cost the doubling of the legislation around trees is likely to contribute to a development?

Sounds like a breakdown of process.

Removing trees without getting consent can cost you big time. This arborist company was fined $42,000 after being hired to cut down a tree in Auckland and failing to check if it was protected. If a tree is protected by the Resource Management Act, it can generally only be removed or trimmed if it’s a risk to someone’s life, health or property. If the tree is on council land, councils have their own policies around trimming and taking out trees so the first step for trees on council land is to talk to council. https://lnkd.in/gv4Vk5gt

Local Governments taking the lead to protect mature trees on private land 🌲Urban areas of Westen Australia losing trees on private land faster than they can be replaced 🌲New WALGA model to provide consistency on tree retention policy for decision-makers, proponents and communities 🌲Model gives a clear definition of a mature or ‘regulated tree’ 🌲Perth has the lowest tree canopy cover of any Australian capital city, at just 16% WALGA has released a new Model Local Planning Policy (LPP) to support Local Governments to stem the loss in tree canopy cover in urban areas across Western Australia. Councils can adopt the Model Local Planning Policy (LPP) Tree Retention, which will clarify whether tree removal (or other tree damaging activity) is works that requires development approval. WALGA State President Karen Chappel reinforced the important role the new model policy will play in stemming the loss in tree canopy cover. “Local Governments have been at the forefront in addressing the loss in canopy cover through tree planting on verges, parks and other public areas, with support from the State Government through the Urban Greening Grant Program. “But planting new trees is not enough to stem the loss in canopy cover. We need to do more to preserve our existing mature trees. “The policy will provide a high level of protection for the most significant of our canopy trees, removing the need for Councils to get approval from the State Government on planning processes.” The LPP aims to provide a consistent approach to preserve trees at all stages of the planning and development process, including strategic planning proposals and subdivision applications, as well as development applications. The model LPP defines the term ‘regulated tree’ being a living tree that: 🌲Is 8 metres or more high; and/or 🌲Has an average canopy diameter of at least 6 metres; and/or 🌲Has a trunk circumference of at least 1.5 metres, measured 1.4 metres above the ground; and 🌲Is of a species that is not included on State or local area weed register. “If a Council chooses to use this model it will make decision making on preserving mature trees more consistent and effective.” Find the policy here: https://ow.ly/Em9Z50QMfhS

Excellent news ✅🌳✅ We know many communities and their Local Governments are keen to implement this Model Local Planning Policy and regulate the removal of large trees on private land. This is a critical step in addressing our Canopy Crisis. #CanopyCrisis #treeprotection #urbanforest #liveablecities #healthycities #resilientcities #urbanheatisland #WATCA #WALGA #communityvoices