Following public consultation, the City of Greater Geelong has adopted the Public Tree Management Policy.
A four-week community engagement over September and October this year resulted in 45 responses from the public with 24 respondents providing detailed feedback.
The Tree Management Policy was initially adopted in 2020 to provide a framework for the management of trees within the City of Greater Geelong.
Council resolved then to review the policy in 2022 and undertook community engagement this year.
Themes that emerged from the feedback included protecting the urban forest and a desire to plant more trees, as well as protecting private trees.
Mayor Trent Sullivan said the policy had been designed to effectively manage the City’s trees.
“Trees provide great opportunities to expand the connections between biodiversity conservation areas and are an essential part of achieving positive urban ecology outcomes,” he said.
“This revised policy provides a framework for best practice in managing our tree population.”
Council said the Public Tree Management Policy ensures the management of trees improves the urban forest, enhances canopy cover and builds connections with native vegetation.
City Works, Parks and Gardens portfolio deputy chair Belinda Moloney said community feedback had contributed to the updated policy.
“I thank the community for its feedback and for providing some insight into what the public wanted out of this policy,” she said.
“Council will continue to advocate for greater tree planting on private land and opportunities for planting will be proactively identified within streets and reserves across the municipality.”
