Ku-ring-gai is lucky to have many very old and beautiful tree specimens. The trunks are huge, maybe equivalent to the outstretched arms of more than four people. They can be over
100 years old and contain many hollows that provide nesting homes and shelter for birds and animals. They create beautiful streetscapes that cool our suburbs.
These landscape features are precious and should be recorded as an asset to be managed by council and appreciated by us all. Ku-ring-gai does have an urban forest strategy but there is no public register of individual trees that is available to the public.
Under the NSW planning legislation the Vegetation SEPP allows councils to use the development control plan to regulate the clearing of both native and non-native vegetation and trees not linked to development.
The SEPP provides that a development control plan may include a significant tree register that lists individual trees, native and non-native, based on their significance and value to the local community, such as cultural, aesthetic, spiritual, educational and environmental value. This includes shade trees or heritage trees that have historical significance.
All trees listed in a significant tree register have additional protection as, if they are on private land, development consent is required to either significantly prune or remove them so that the whole range of values recognised in the listing are taken into account. This is in addition to the usual process of simply lodging a tree permit application.
Trees on the register can be publicly recognised by listing on the council website and signage on the trees, maybe as simple as a QR code. This helps the public appreciate the extent of the green assets and heritage.
There are several examples of councils in Sydney that have a significant tree register, such as the City of Sydney, Randwick and Central Coast.
Other tree initiatives
It is good news that council has decided to support a Treecare program. This will be a volunteer-based program to assist in the protection, enhancement and monitoring of selected native canopy trees in key locations.
The first tree to be nominated by a group of residents is the large Angophora at the St Ives Showground at the edge of the entry carpark.
Council has also established a tree trail starting in St Johns Ave in Gordon. The Killior'ra Tree Trail introduces 18 trees during a 45 min walk.
It includes signage which identifies individual tree species along with a link to a web page where more information can be found.
Killior’ra is the local indigenous name for the Turpentine, one of the tree species featured along the trail.
We hope there will be more initiatives like these. See Issue 224 of STEP Matters for more information about tree protection in Ku-ring-gai.