More than 11,000 new street trees will be planted across Maribyrnong over the next decade.
The $5-million street planting strategy was adopted at last week’s
council meeting, but critics say the plan reduces community
consultation on the removal of mature trees.
A draft street planting strategy was released on April 30,
attracting 38 responses. A report found strong support for the roll-out
of tree planting as part of the first strategy overhaul in 15 years.
New trees will, in most cases, be in keeping with trees already
planted in streets. Residents will be invited to have input into
choosing replacement trees when roadworks require removal of mature
trees.
But Save SKY Streetscapes founder Mark Stacey said there were major inconsistencies in the tree-removal section of the strategy.
The Kingsville resident – a vocal critic of the council’s recent
removal of more than two dozen trees in Queensville Street – said the
council had ignored inconsistencies in the strategy as to the process
for removing healthy or non-dangerous trees.
While supporting the planting plans he had “deep reservations”
about the council’s approach to street tree removals. Mr Stacey said two
days after the strategy was implemented a mature tree was removed in
Seddon without adequate input from residents.
“We tabled our concerns at the council meeting but it was a bit of a shock that they didn’t process the situation,” he said.
The report stated planting more than 11,000 new street trees over the next 10 years will seek to mitigate the impact of climate change.
