FAQs

Council resolved in 2020 to consolidate and update the Urban Trees and Bushland Policy to achieve its environmental goals under the Community Strategic Plan:

1. Goal 2 Enhance and protect the beautiful and healthy natural environment of Sutherland Shire
2. Goal 6 Sustain Sutherland Shire as a liveable place where we can all continue to enjoy a high quality of life.

The purpose of this policy is to address community concern regarding the consequences from an ageing tree population, the loss of trees and the need for future trees by providing a holistic, integrated and consistent approach to the management of trees and bushland on both public and private land. This approach will reduce the number of hazardous trees in streets and parks, and, with appropriate tree planting ensure the Shire’s future urban canopy is replenished and risk reduced.

• Replace the current Urban Tree and Bushland Policy (2011) and incorporate elements of the Vandalism Policy /Crime Prevention Plan and Public Liability relating to Trees Policy (2015).
• Support the principles of trees on public land being managed as assets, using a ‘whole of life cycle’ approach that manages both risk and ensures canopy for future generations.
• Implement a new review process to provide residents the opportunity to have all relevant factors considered in reviewing tree decisions on both public and private land.
• Introduce vandalism guidelines for enforcement action.

The draft Urban Trees and Bushland Policy outlines a new review process for tree decisions in Schedule C. There are two separate review of determination processes, one for private trees and one for public trees. 

A review is not limited to considering just the health or significance of the tree, it will  also involve a holistic review of the site, any risk factors and the circumstances that may be contributing to the customers concerns.