Planning controls to protect trees

A significant tree register will be established in Baw Baw Shire to introduce planning controls for the long term protection of natural assets.

Cr Danny Goss said it was time councillors walked the walk and protected trees that were a significant part of the shire's rural character.

Establishing a shire wide register and associated planning controls is expected to cost about $250,000 and take about three years to implement into the planning scheme.

A report to council last week responded to Cr Goss' general business motion asking officers to report on the process involved to implement a planning scheme amendment to protect trees along Buln Buln Rd, Drouin.

His motion came after a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearing relating to an 88-lot residential subdivision drew attention to the lack of protection for a 1.5 hectare area of native vegetation in the subdivision.

VCAT members said the trees in Buln Buln Rd impacted by the subdivision were "of such significant scale and dominance that they warrant greater protection than provided for in the proposal."

After receiving legal advice and discussions with Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning staff, council officers said a planning scheme amendment to introduce planning controls to protect all trees on the Buln Buln Rd site was unnecessary.

Among other options considered by officers was introduction of a planning control to apply to all trees included on a shire wide significant tree register.

"It is considered that such an amendment would have a greater strategic basis than a localised planning scheme amendment.

"It is considered that this project could involve the identification of significant vegetation in township areas across the municipality including on private land.

Officers said a consultant arborist would need to be engaged to identify and determine the tree protection zones of significant trees.

The report said the register would only identify significant vegetation on properties less than 0.4 hectares as there were regulations in place that triggered a planning permit for removal of native vegetation on properties larger than 0.4 hectares.

Cr Goss said there was a lot of work and it could take two to three years.

"We live in a predominantly rural environment. I get lots of comment about the loss of character in the rural environment and the implications of development.

Cr Goss acknowledged the work of Friends of Drouin's Trees members in establishing a significant tree register for Drouin.

He said their work had flowed into Warragul and other towns but it was not shire wide.

"I applaud the work done to protect these trees but it's not enough.

"Every journey begins with a single step and as councillors we need to walk the walk as far as native vegetation is concerned.

"If you want an extra degree of protection, you will vote for this," he said.

Cr Tricia Jones said this motion was a "no brainer."

"The findings of VCAT are a dream come true and this is all because of the passion and doggedness of the Friends of Drouin's Trees members.

"Too many significant trees have been lost. I am glad we are getting serious finally and we can do what we've been saying for many years," she said.

Cr Annemarie McCabe said council had seen too often the loss of valuable trees at the expense of development. She said trees should be a planning priority.

"Friends of Drouin's Trees have been warriors in our community to raise this time and time again," she said.