(Council Approved) DRAFT Strategy for Substantial Trees in Banyule's Garden Court & Garden

131 Pages·2013·9.09 MB·English

by  Emma Shorter

(Council Approved) DRAFT
Strategy for Substantial Trees
in Banyule’s Garden Court
& Garden Suburban Neighbourhoods
Draft_V4.1_16 Apr 2013
DRAFT
Strategy for Substantial Trees in Banyule’s Garden Court and Garden Suburban Neighbourhoods
Draft_V4.1_Apr 2013
Document History

Version Details Notes Date
Preliminary Strategy for Substantial Trees in Prepared for Council Meeting 14/12/2009
Banyule’s Garden Court and Garden Suburban
Neighbourhoods
Interim Strategy for Substantial Trees in Banyule’s Submitted to Minister for Planning together 15/10/2010
Garden Court and Garden Suburban with request for the application of Section 20
Neighbourhoods (4) of the Planning and Environment Act
1987 to amend the Banyule Planning
Scheme with an interim VPO control (C75).
Peer Review: Interim Strategy for Substantial 08/11/2012
Trees in Banyule’s Garden Court and Garden
Suburban Neighbourhoods (by Tony Hall)
Peer Review and editorial: (Draft) Strategy for 15/02/2013
Substantial Trees in Banyule’s Garden Court and
Garden Suburban Neighbourhoods (by
Planisphere)
(Draft) Strategy for Substantial Trees in Banyule’s Approved by Council 08/04/2013
Garden Court and Garden Suburban
Noted at meeting - minor modifications to
Neighbourhoods_Version 4
Strategy to continue up until finalisation of
Public Exhibition Version.
Approved ((Draft) Strategy for Substantial Trees Public Exhibition Version 16/04/2013
in Banyule’s Garden Court and Garden Suburban
Neighbourhoods_Version 4.1

Acknowledgments
In preparing this Strategy we would like to acknowledge the following:
 Planisphere (planning and urban design consultancy), as a peer reviewer and editor of the
Substantial Tree Strategy, author of the supporting case studies and analysis report and
reviewer of existing temporary Vegetation Protection Overlay Schedule 5.
 Professor Tony Hall BSc MA PhD FRTPI (Griffith University), as a peer reviewer, foreword
author and contributor to the Substantial Tree Strategy.
 Development Planning Arborists (Banyule City Council).
 Development Planning Coordinator (Banyule City Council).
 GIS Officer (Banyule City Council).
 Biodiversity Education Officer (Banyule City Council).
 Strategic Planning Team (Banyule City Council).
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Foreword

Trees play a very significant role in urban areas. Their aesthetic appeal, ability to enclose space
and soften built environments contributes to the visual character of neighbourhoods, something
that is well attested to by public opinion, as well as academic studies.

Trees also have a vital environmental function that receives much less public attention. The soft-
landscaped areas where they grow absorb storm water and control its flow. This retained
moisture, together with the transpiration and shade provided by the trees, has a cooling affect not
only on spaces but also on nearby buildings so reducing their energy consumption in summer and
the impact of hotter days. The trees absorb carbon compounds and other pollutants. Trees also
form part of an urban ecosystem that hosts a very wide degree of biodiversity and provides an
essential habitat for some species.

Regrettably, these various contributions are under threat. As trees age, unless they are nurtured
they will prematurely die and when their removal is eventually warranted - replacement planting is
needed if an urban area is to retain and enhance its visual appeal and environmental attributes.

Living under and around trees helps us connect with nature and appreciate that we are connected
to a wider environment. Aging and growing up with nature around our homes is important for our
wellbeing. Consequently, designing for our new and modified homes calls for a well considered
approach for integrating trees, their replacements and new trees into our landscaped spaces
around our homes and through our neighbourhoods.

This Strategy follows current best practice thinking, emerging from academia, and gives Banyule
Council a solid platform for neighbourhoods to have their homes in and around Substantial Trees
in the future.

Tony Hall, author of The Life and Death of the Australian Backyard - 2012 Winner of the
Planning Institute of Australia Award for Excellence in Planning in Cutting Edge Research
and Teaching

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Executive Summary

The City of Banyule currently has a level of permanent protection for trees within its Planning
Scheme however a permanent planning control is not in place in the west of the municipality (in
respective Garden Court and Garden Suburban neighbourhoods, as defined by the 2012 Banyule
Neighbourhood Character Strategy).

This Strategy provides the context for Council’s position on protecting and enabling the amount of
geographical cover provided to Garden Court and Garden Suburban neighbourhoods by
Substantial Trees. Substantial Trees are large trees with a height of 12m and above and/or with a
trunk diameter measured at 1.4m above the base of the tree of 0.4m. They are generally older and
well established, contributing significantly to their local environment in many ways.

The importance placed on Substantial Trees is described in detail in this Strategy around five (5)
key policy themes which focus on:
• contribution to (1) Neighbourhood Character & Local Identity,
• provision of important (2) Habitat Links & Wildlife Corridors,
• the longevity of valuable (3) Remnant Overstorey Vegetation,
• the role and value attributed to (4) Exotic and Non-Indigenous Native Trees, and;
• localised impacts which assist in to (5) Stability in the Local Environment.

Under each policy theme is the policy direction and objectives to safeguard and enhance the future
of Substantial Trees in the City. Objectives include:
• Retain, protect and promote further planting for Substantial Trees for the purposes of:
Retaining and improving local neighbourhood character.
o
Safeguarding vegetation that represents the cultural and environmental history of the City
o
Providing and retaining habitat links and movement corridors.
o
Providing biodiversity and a source of genetic material for the re-establishment of the natural
o
heritage of the City.
Shading and cooling.
o
Sustainable storm water drainage.
o
Carbon sequestration.
o
• Assist with ensuring that residential development does not compromise the long-term
protection and retention of on site and nearby Substantial Trees on adjacent properties.

The Strategy progresses from earlier analysis of potential planning scheme mechanisms and
recommends making an interim (temporary) planning control; Vegetation Protection Overlay
(Schedule 5) a permanent control. This Overlay (VPO5) has applied across respective Garden
Court and Garden Suburban neighbourhoods since November 2010 and instigates permit trigger
requirements for the removal and/or lopping of trees which meet the parameters for a “Substantial
Tree” described above. A planning scheme amendment will be required to introduce a permanent
VPO5 into the Banyule Planning Scheme and will require the Schedule and this Substantial Tree
Strategy to be publically exhibited.
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Introduction

Banyule City Council and its local community, put priority to the continued protection of Banyule’s
environment, particularly the trees that contribute to the liveability of neighbourhoods from an
environmental, built landscape and aesthetic (local character) perspective.

This Strategy provides the policy framework to improve the protection, retention and planting of
large trees in various Garden Court and Garden Suburban neighbourhoods across the west of
Banyule. These are neighbourhoods where:
• European settlement and ongoing land development has substantially affected the quality and
diversity of the pre-settlement woodland vegetation communities.
• There is currently limited permanent vegetation protection in the Banyule Planning Scheme
(please refer to Map 1 below for more detail on existing planning scheme provisions).
• The preferred future character (as defined by the Neighbourhood Character Strategy, 2012)
seeks to protect existing trees that contribute to the environmental, landscape or aesthetic
character.

Map 1: Banyule Planning Scheme Permanent and Interim Planning Controls for Tree Protection

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In Banyule’s Garden Court and Garden Suburban neighbourhoods the remaining prominent
vegetation is comprised of large exotic, native or local indigenous trees. For the purposes of this
Strategy this prominent vegetation is known as “Substantial Trees” which are 12m and above in
height and/or have a diameter of 0.4m when measured at 1.4m above the base of the tree (these
measurements are discussed in more detail later in the Implementation Section of this report).

It is Council’s strategic direction to better protect and provide for Substantial Trees in these
neighbourhoods and to use the Banyule Planning Scheme as the preferred avenue to achieve this.

The relevant State Government Practice Note (Vegetation Protection in Urban Areas VPP Practice
Note (August 1999) indicates that:

Vegetation can make an important contribution to the urban environment….Vegetation may
also be important to the community in defining and contributing to the character of a city,
suburb or township.

Substantial Trees are important. They support the local identity of activity areas and the character
of residential neighbourhoods. They contribute to streetscapes, define the skyline of ridgelines and
are prominent in backdrops and vistas across neighbourhoods. They help to manage the local
micro climate, sustain biodiversity through providing links and wildlife corridors, and present
several areas of intact remnant native vegetation (which may consist of rare or threatened
species). Other Substantial Trees are exotic or Australian native trees that add to Banyule’s urban
landscape.

Dr Greg Moore of the University of Melbourne prepared an article in 2009 entitled People, Trees,
Landscapes and Climate Change which provides a contemporary understanding of the role and
value of large trees in urban environments. These considerations regard climatic and
environmental benefits, social benefits, and economic benefits respectively. In his article Moore
states that this:

…is the century of the environment and the value of trees and vegetation will inevitably rise
as people become more aware of the elements of a sustainable urban environment.

Tony Hall, of Griffith University, discussed the importance of larger trees in his paper Where have
all the gardens gone? An Investigation into the disappearance of back yards in the newer
Australian suburb (August, 2007):

Where they [trees] grow to a significant height, they will provide useful shade and enclosure
of space, constituting towards the aesthetics and microclimate, where they [trees] remain
small, this will not occur. For the beneficial effects on aesthetics, microclimate and control
of run-off to be achieved overall, a reasonably uniform distribution [of trees in backyards and
on the street] is required. Where street trees remain small, or are absent entirely, the general
problem of lack of tree coverage will be aggravated.

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Many of these larger trees are on private land that is zoned for residential purposes in the Planning
Scheme. Whilst tree protection is important, it is also Council policy to support housing growth in
appropriate areas (reflected in Clause 21.06, Built Environment of the Banyule Planning Scheme).
Rescode goes someway to consider trees on site, however more control and guidance is needed
to compliment Rescode and ensure the preferred future character of neighbourhoods is more
effectively enabled for tree protection.

Based on this, in November 2010 a temporary VPO5, which instigates a permit trigger so Council
can effectively manage removal and replacement of Substantial Trees, was applied to the City’s
respective Garden Court and Garden Suburban Neighbourhoods. Council’s Neighbourhood
Character Strategy and respective Local Policy at Clause 22.02 (Residential Neighbourhood
Character) further enables tree protection and planting in Garden Court and Garden Suburban
Precincts through the description of objectives and design responses to assist in achieving the
preferred future character of these neighbourhoods.

This Strategy has been informed by the analysis of the temporary VPO5 control and provides the
strategic justification to apply a permanent VPO5. This control is intrinsically linked to 5 policy
themes and their respective objectives; these themes being:
1. Neighbourhood Character & Local Identity
2. Habitat Links & Wildlife Corridors
3. Remnant Overstorey Vegetation
4. Exotic and Non-Indigenous Native Trees
5. Stability in the Local Environment
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Policy Context

Banyule City Plan 2009-2013
Council’s vision is for “Banyule, a green, liveable and prosperous city, sustaining a healthy and
engaged community”. The City Plan was developed under the 5 themes of People, Planet, Place,
Prosperity and Participation. Under each of these themes are key strategic directions and
objectives which will best achieve this vision.

Two themes of particular relevance to the Substantial Tree Strategy are ‘Planet’ and ‘Place’.

Theme: Planet
Objective: Environmental sustainability. Conduct Council activities in a sustainable manner,
and practice sound stewardship of the natural environment to ensure its diversity,
protection and enhancement.
Key Direction: Protect and enhance our natural environment.
Focus Areas: (1) Green Banyule by sustaining and growing the number of trees, and protecting
existing tree stock, particularly significant trees.
(2) Protect and enhance our wildlife corridors by increasing the cover of indigenous
and appropriate vegetation across the municipality.
(3) Protect our natural environment through statutory and strategic planning.

Theme: Place
Objective: Sustainable amenity and built environment. Enable Banyule’s buildings, places and
spaces to be more sustainable.
Key Direction: Support the character of neighbourhoods and guide growth to accessible
places.
Focus Areas: (1) Promote the preferred character of neighbourhoods.

Metropolitan Strategy
At present an Advisory Committee appointed by the Minister is developing a new Metropolitan
Strategy for Melbourne. This strategic plan will guide the growth and development of Melbourne
over the next 30 to 40 years. A Discussion Paper was released by the Committee in October 2012
and is currently out for public exhibition. The Paper identifies nine principles to inform the
Metropolitan Strategy (anticipated to be delivered in Spring 2013). Of relevance it is considered
that this Substantial Tree Strategy aligns with three of these principles including: a Distinctive
Melbourne, Environmental Resilience and Living Locally, a ’20 minute’ city.

Principle 1: A Distinctive Melbourne
People are justifiably proud of their areas….parts of middle and outer Melbourne have not been
deigned or managed to reach their full potential….Melbourne can build on its tradition of good
design and reinforce local distinctiveness to create many more attractive places to meet
community expectations.

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Under “key issues and possible opportunities”:
One of Melbourne’s highly valued characteristics is its leafy green suburbs. Many suburban areas
are noted for their beautiful tree lined streets and attractive open spaces. Directing development
into more targeted areas – with a clearer definition of the scale of change intended – will allow
these qualities to be better protected and enhanced.

Principle 5: Environmental Resilience
Melbourne needs to become more environmentally resilient. We need to respond to changing
environmental and climate conditions and ensure development does not undermine natural values.

Under “key issues and possible opportunities”:
Dense urban areas can be up to four degrees warmer that surrounding rural areas. Called the
‘urban heat island effect’, this means greater cooling costs and an adverse effect on some people’s
health.

Protecting biodiversity requires strategies to: ...maintain and extend ecological connectivity across
the city on public and private land.

Principle 7 Living locally – a ’20 minute’ city
Accessible, safe and attractive local areas….will help make Melbourne a healthier, more inclusive
City…While individuals can act to address the sustainability of their own houses, encouraging a
neighbourhood approach to sustainability has the potential to make the process easier and more
effective.

Under “ideas and aspirations for change”:
Melbourne is a suburban city and that will not change. The environmental performance of suburbs
can be dramatically improved….Trees are highly valued in Melbourne’s suburbs. The tree canopy
of the city could be increased with significant environmental and aesthetic benefits. Melbourne
could increase tree cover in parkland and along waterways by planting more street trees, including
fruit bearing trees, throughout its neighbourhoods.

The importance of trees is further highlighted in Figure 13 of the Paper which lists the benefits of
trees being:
• Reinforces sense of place and city identity.
• Improves community cohesion.
• Reduces sun exposure providing shading and cooling.
• Enables energy savings.
• Enables health savings.
• Reduces air pollution.
• Provides habitat and greater biodiversity.
• Encourages outdoor activity.
• Reconnects children with nature.
• Reduces heat-related illnesses.
• Reduces flows and nutrients in storm water.
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• Improves mental wellbeing.
• Increases property values.
• Assists in carbon trading.
• Avoids costs of infrastructure damage.

State Planning Policy Framework
There are several Policy directions and objectives in the SPPF which describe the significance and
importance of protecting trees from a range of perspectives (landscape, biodiversity, aesthetics,
sense of place, natural heritage etc) and for many reasons.

Clause 12 Environmental and Landscape Values
Planning should help to protect the health of ecological systems and the biodiversity they support
(including ecosystems, habitats, species and genetic diversity) and conserve areas with identified
environmental and landscape values……Planning should protect sites and features of nature
conservation, biodiversity, geological or landscape value.

Clause 12.01-1 Protection of habitat
Objective
To assist the protection and conservation of biodiversity, including native vegetation retention and
provision of habitats for native plants and animals and control of pest plants and animals.
Strategies
• Ensure that the siting of new buildings and works minimises the removal or fragmentation of
native vegetation.
• Consider the need to protect waterways and soil from degradation that may result from the loss
of native vegetation

Clause 12.01-2 Native vegetation management
Objective
To achieve a net gain in the extent and quality of native vegetation.
Strategies
• Apply the three step process as set out by Victoria’s Native Vegetation Management – a
Framework for Action. These are:
• Step 1: As a priority, avoid adverse impacts on native vegetation, particularly through
clearance. If the removal of native vegetation can not be avoided:
• Step 2: Minimise impacts through appropriate consideration in the planning process and
expert input to project design or management; and
• Step 3: Identify appropriate offset options.

Clause 12.04-2 Landscapes
Objective
To protect landscapes and significant open spaces that contribute to character, identity and
sustainable environments.
Strategies
• Recognise the natural landscape for its aesthetic value and as a fully functioning system.
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