Perhaps the geniuses behind the tree policy might want to talk to their insurance company. Fancy it even getting airborne!
An open mandate for healthy trees to do as much damage as they like? YES
Zero council responsibility for inspection and management? YES
Residents to pay for arborist reports on council trees? YES
Is this Russia @ 1950? Appears so.
Tree management has council out on a limb - Local News - News - General - Nambucca Guardian News Quote:
Tree management has council out on a limb
27 Oct, 2011
Nambucca Shire Council is still struggling to pin down exactly how to manage trees on council land.
After Councillor Paula Flack’s motion to discuss tree management policy was lost at a council meeting earlier this month (6th), the matter came up again at the most recent meeting (20th).
Councillor Michael Moran OAM said it was “lucky” council had not had the chance to pass a tree register.
“Last (meeting) we talked about a tree register, and this week we have a person come in wanting to take the tree out.”
A shire resident approached council wanting two Norfolk Pines, which were on council land, removed because they could damage his property if allowed to grow much bigger.
Mayor Rhonda Hoban said that council’s current policy for managing trees on council land meant that if the trees were healthy, they would remain. Due to the policy, the man had to apply for council assessment and approval for the removal of the trees.
“Because of our policy, council staffs’ hands are tied,” Cr Hoban said.
A lot of people were not aware that council had adopted a new tree policy within the last six months, Cr Hoban said.
“If someone wants a tree removed from public land, they have to have an arborist inspect the tree, at their expense. If the tree is healthy, it stays.
“We don’t have the council staff or numbers to go around inspecting trees and dealing with applications.
“The shortcoming in the policy (this situation) highlights is it doesn’t cover a situation where a tree is a threat to property or persons.”
Based on the circumstances, and the trees being an obvious risk to the man’s home, council voted to allow him to remove the trees, at his expense, without an arborist’s report.
Councillor Anne Smyth suggested engineering staff should come up with a policy for managing trees on council land, something that would stop similar situations occurring.
“I really believe we need to look at tree policy,” she said.
Council resolved to amend its tree maintenance and removal policy, to make the application and assessment process clearer.
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27th October 2011, 10:02 PM
Neglegent Tree Polices by Nambucca Shire Council? 
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