Tree World - View Single Post

Sean Freeman · 21st November 2007, 02:22 AM

Eric the real problem is the process of approvals in Qld, if you are not altering the usage of your property lets say merely extending the building, then the process can and often falls under building approvals...BA's...now due to the massive pressure on council officers (too many applications not enough people or hours in the day) BA's are more often than hot self assessed...no officer has to visit the site unless someone formaly opposes the building or reports a breach of some sort...so the owner self assesses, BCC know from their records there's a protected tree on site so throw the BA back saying you need an Arborist's report on the tree, as thats in their proceedures.

Self-assessed BA's are a real problem in more ways than just trees mate believe me!

When its a new development or change of usage then its a Development Application DA, and it should follow a much more closely monitored protocol...doesn't always but should.

Many of the tree officers and compliance officers I have met from down your way are very much like us in their desire to retain and protect suitable trees in urban areas, they are over stretched and messed around just as much as you or me by property owners and bulders who don't tell the truth, or act like they know what is going on when they really don't.

I'm not denying your experience just saying its not black and white, and some major bits of local legislation are not helping properly manage trees on building sites, but trust me we are not the only ones who recognise this fact.

21st November 2007, 02:22 AM	#11 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,783	Re: how much is that doggy in the window? Eric the real problem is the process of approvals in Qld, if you are not altering the usage of your property lets say merely extending the building, then the process can and often falls under building approvals...BA's...now due to the massive pressure on council officers (too many applications not enough people or hours in the day) BA's are more often than hot self assessed...no officer has to visit the site unless someone formaly opposes the building or reports a breach of some sort...so the owner self assesses, BCC know from their records there's a protected tree on site so throw the BA back saying you need an Arborist's report on the tree, as thats in their proceedures. Self-assessed BA's are a real problem in more ways than just trees mate believe me! When its a new development or change of usage then its a Development Application DA, and it should follow a much more closely monitored protocol...doesn't always but should. Many of the tree officers and compliance officers I have met from down your way are very much like us in their desire to retain and protect suitable trees in urban areas, they are over stretched and messed around just as much as you or me by property owners and bulders who don't tell the truth, or act like they know what is going on when they really don't. I'm not denying your experience just saying its not black and white, and some major bits of local legislation are not helping properly manage trees on building sites, but trust me we are not the only ones who recognise this fact. __________________ Sean Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper, That we may record our emptiness. - Kahlil Gibran