Trees 

Verge Trees
Trees provide many benefits. They are essential to our wellbeing and generally enhance our built and natural environments.

Street trees upon the verge are managed by the City of Belmont. It is an offence to prune, damage or remove tree(s) located on Council Property without written approval from the City.

Request to Plant a Street Tree
To continually improve streetscape amenity the City plants approximately 250 established trees per year as part of the Street Tree Planting Program. 
 
Residents are encouraged to be involved with improvements to their streetscape by requesting the planting of street trees.  Planting of street trees is undertaken by Council staff during the winter months of each year.  There are nominated tree species for all City streets, as outlined in the City’s Street Tree Strategy (revised May 2006).  Planting, formative pruning, initial watering and subsequent pruning of street trees upon the council verge is the responsibility of the City. 

If you would like to request a street tree to be planted on your verge please contact the City’s Parks, Leisure and Environment Administration Officer on 9477 7257 to register your interest.

Request for a Street Tree to be Pruned
Street trees are pruned to defined arboricultural specifications in order to enhance their appearance, manage risk and provide clearance from roads, footpaths and overhead services. 

The City conducts an annual power line pruning program from February to May, in order to comply with Western Power clearance guidelines.  Any additional requests are assessed by the City’s Parks Supervisors and actioned as appropriate.

For more information on tree pruning in the City of Belmont please contact the City’s Parks, Leisure and Environment Administration Officer on 9477 7257.

Request for a Street Tree to be Removed
Street trees are regarded as community assets. They play a significant role in the provision of attractive and welcoming streetscapes and their preservation is a priority. Potential tree retention benefits include shade, screening (privacy), landscape aesthetics, energy conservation, air quality improvement, carbon uptake and storage, minimization of storm water run-off and fauna habitat.
 
Council Officers will generally not agree to the removal of significant trees that possess a high aesthetic and ecological value. Tree removal shall only be undertaken when a tree is deemed to possess a high risk of significant harm (dead, declining or defective) to the surrounding target area or where successful retention of the tree is not possible due to site development constraints. The removal of street trees shall only be undertaken by the City, or at the specific direction of the City.

For more information on trees in the City of Belmont please contact the City’s Parks, Leisure and Environment Administration Officer on 9477 7257.

Dangerous Trees on Private Property
In the interest of public safety and in accordance with the Local Government Act 1995, the City of Belmont will, where notified by residents, play an active role in the management of potentially dangerous trees on private property.

When a resident raises concern with regard to the safety of a tree/s on private property, the City’s Arboriculturalist will at the earliest opportunity conduct a visual inspection of the tree.

Where a visual inspection by the City’s Arboriculturalist reveals a tree possesses a high risk of significant harm to the surrounding target area, and therefore requires immediate action to alleviate this risk the City will, in accordance with Section 3.27 (1) Schedule 3.2 (7) of the Local Government Act, take action to reduce the risk of harm from the tree, with or without consent from the owner or occupier of the land.

Where a visual inspection by the City’s Arboriculturalist reveals a tree to be potentially dangerous but not a ‘serious and immediate danger’ the City will, in accordance with Section 3.25 (1) Schedule 3.1(8) & (9) of the Local Government Act issue a notice requiring the owner or occupier to remove all or part of the tree, to reduce the hazard potential to the surrounding target area to a low risk of harm.
 
Where a visual inspection by the City’s Arboriculturalist reveals the tree poses a low risk of harm to the surrounding target area, both the complainant and the property owner are notified and no further action will be taken.

Neighbouring Trees
Where concern has been raised due to encroaching tree roots and branches overhanging fences between private properties, this is an issue to be resolved between the property owners. There is a fact sheet regarding overhanging branches and intruding roots that is available at Legal Aid Fact sheet encroaching roots and branches.pdf

Where a professional arboricultural assessment and report is required, the City of Belmont recommends ratepayers engage the services of an Arboricultural consultant who possesses the minimum qualification - AQF Level 5 in Arboriculture, and the minimum Professional Indemnity insurance cover of $2,000,000.

Where professional tree services are required, the City of Belmont recommends that ratepayers engage the services of an Arborist who possesses the minimum qualification - AQF Level 3 in Arboriculture, and the minimum Public Liability insurance cover of $5,000,000.

Further information on general tree care is available at www.treesaregood.org

Street Tree Affecting Proposed Crossover Development
Subdivision of a block or the installation of a crossover (driveway) can affect the street tree upon the verge, both the structural stability of the tree and the tree health. Following submission of a development application, all requests to remove or replace the street tree/s potentially affecting the proposed crossover are submitted to the Parks Technical Officer for assessment. The street tree will have its monetary value appraised, incorporating the values of useful life expectancy, tree form with vitality and suitability of location. The Parks Technical Officer will liaise with the City’s Arboriculturalist to determine preservation strategies or replacement options. 

If permission is given to remove the tree, an established replacement tree is required to be planted. Replacement tree species are nominated in the City’s Street Tree Strategy.  The removal and replacement cost is the responsibility of the property owner (inclusive of all costs). 

If permission is not granted to remove the tree, the Officer may recommend adjusting the development plans or crossover location in order to retain the tree. 

For more information on trees in the City of Belmont please contact the City’s Parks, Leisure and Environment Administration Officer on 9477 7257.