South Perth to attempt another strategy to protect trees as Minister Carey rejects modifications to LPS7

The City of South Perth will attempt another strategy to protect trees on private property after the State Government rejected measures in the city’s local planning scheme.

Cr Hayley Prendiville proposed at last week’s council meeting that the city’s CEO draft a planning policy in a bid to preserve the city’s trees and tree canopy.

If approved, the planning policy would stipulate that any trees removed prior to submitting a development application would need to be replaced with twice the number of trees and tree canopies.

Site concessions would also be afforded to sites where significant trees were retained.

Cr Prendiville’s motion was passed 6-2, with councillors Mary Choy and Andre Brender-A-Brandis voting against it.

The draft planning policy will be presented to the council in May.

The council decision came as the city announced Planning Minister John Carey had approved the city’s local planning scheme 7 but had not adopted modifications relating to tree protection on private land.

“We recognise that many in this community will be disappointed with the decision to remove tree protections,” mayor Greg Milner said in a statement.

“Nevertheless, the city remains committed to its tree planting program and is reviewing its Urban Forest Strategy to identify opportunities for increasing the city’s tree canopy into the future.”

But Mr Carey said the State Government “supported the intent” to grow the city’s urban tree canopy.

“Our government is committed to developing a new urban greening strategy to promote and enhance tree canopy across the Perth and Peel region,” he said.

“The strategy will take a whole-of-government approach that will investigate a range of measures aimed at improving tree canopy such as incentive programs, local government community projects and opportunities to maximise trees on public land.”

Cr Prendiville acknowledged efforts to protect trees via LPS7 had been unsuccessful and said the proposed planning policy was a “simple and central step forward”.

“We are losing trees on private property faster than we can replace them and we are constantly reminded of how slowly they grow,” she said at the council meeting.

“Our efforts from the city to include tree protection in LPS7, it’s been noted has not been successful ... since presented it, we do need a local planning policy to assist in protection of our tree canopy.”

But Cr Mary Choy raised concerns about property rights, enforcement, increased cost and conflict between neighbours.

“I am concerned with a policy of this type sort being designed and implemented that may be too prescriptive or have unexpected consequences that we may not be able to comprehend or appreciate right now,” she said.

“Whilst we have been previously advised that the increasing amount of development occurring throughout the district has given rise to the increased loss of trees on private land that in no way can be made up by the continuous planting of trees on public open spaces ... mandating such protection ... could present several challenges.”

South Perth residents can learn more about LPS7 at a drop-in information session at the Civic Centre on April 13.