Drouin tree register will empower the community

A significant tree register has been adopted by Baw Baw Shire, identifying 258 trees in Drouin.

Council has formally adopted the register that was developed with assistance from the Friends of Drouin’s Trees group.

A report to council last week said the register was established using a criteria and methodology identified by the Friends of Drouin’s Trees and has been subject to community consultation.

The trees identified as significant will be placed on council’s asset register.

Council officers are now undertaking a review of statutory options to protect significant trees in Drouin.

The report to council said Friends of Drouin’s Trees members contributed 495 voluntary hours to assisting with the project.

The group prepared individual citations for each of the 258 significant tree assets in a voluntary capacity.

The geographic registration of each significant tree asset was undertaken by council officers, with assistance from Friends of Drouin Trees members.

Council officers also are investigating options for an online mapping tool to enable residents to view the locations and citations of trees on the register.

Cr Tricia Jones said the register would go someway in protecting the town’s landscape.

“This is an important piece of work. This is the best thing that has happened for the town and I’m very much in favour of the motion,” she said.

Cr Jessica O’Donnell acknowledged the huge amount of work undertaken by the friends’ group. “Without them we wouldn’t have this amazing piece of work. It has been an outstanding volume of work contributed to this.”

Cr O’Donnell said the register would create a huge environmental impact in creating awareness about the benefits of the trees including providing habitat for wildlife, improving air quality, protection from wind and sun, reducing storm water runoff, reducing urban heat-island effect and landscape amenity.

Cr Keith Cook said the work had been underway for four years.

He said people came into the shire and saw the beautiful natural assets.

He said he hoped other towns would follow in the work that has been done for Drouin.

Community consultation involved a Have Your Say forum on council’s website in which council received 16 responses and one written submission.

Officers said the 17 submissions were highly supportive of the establishment of a Baw Baw Significant Tree Register, use of the proposed significant tree identification methodology and inclusion of the significant trees identified by the Friends of Drouin Trees onto the register.

Officers said the register “will empower the community to become custodians for tree management, protection and health.”