CONFUSION over the approval process for removing pine trees has prompted Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to clarify the rules.
Rapid urbanisation of the peninsula and the age of pine trees that were planted decades ago as wind breaks means many of them are being removed.
The mayor Cr Steve Holland said radiata pines, – the most prolific pines on the peninsula – are native to the United States but are well adapted to the peninsula and can spread and colonise areas of native bush and roadsides. They are classified as an environmental weed on the peninsula.
As much of the peninsula’s character is based on its green landscape and large areas are covered by a vegetation protection overlay a permit is required to remove any vegetation, including radiata pines.
Holland said that when considering a permit to remove trees the shire looked at their arboricultural, environmental and habitat values.
Any approval to remove vegetation required the replanting of suitable trees on the same site.
Last year, the continuing loss of trees on the peninsula – native and non-native – prompted calls for the council to adopt a strategy to halt “tree recession”.
Holland called for a tree canopy (urban forest) strategy to be presented to council for adoption before 1 August this year, with an initial timeline, budget and implementation report presented to council before 1 January.
That strategy is still being developed, after $265,000 was allocated in the budget to develop an urban forest strategy and for tree planting.
Holland said a workshop with councillors would consider the draft provisions.
The strategy was likely to apply to all areas within the urban growth boundary, with the aim of substantially increasing canopy cover across residential and commercial areas by a set percentage and date.
Peninsula-based ecologist Mal Legg has previously told The News that tree loss on the peninsula was devastating for wildlife, including a variety of native birds that needed trees for nesting and 25 per cent of native vertebrates relying on tree hollows.
He said that while the planning scheme gave some protection to trees and vegetation, more should be done to stop land clearing.
First published in the Mornington News – 15 August 2023
