Trees and Council Meeting 10 October 2023

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Tree, Newtown

Deep Soil and Tree Canopy (including NSW Gov Greener places guide) at https://perambuler.ramin.com.au/2023/09/deep-soil-tree-canopy.html

Council and State Gov has different Tree Canopy targets for different classifications of land (ranging from 40% to 15%) see our tree DCP
 
The Tree and Biodiversity Strategies have slipped in the 23/4 Inner West Councl Delivery Program. 
 
Agenda Council Meeting TUESDAY 8 AUGUST 2023 Item No: C0823(1) Item 4 Subject: Tree Canopy Report
RECOMMENDATION
1. That Council adopt an inspection process for development sites that certifies tree, landscape works and deep soil provisions – this would apply to new dwellings, multiunit residential accommodation, commercial, industrial and mixed-use developments.
2. That Council exhibit a new inspection and reinspection fee structure for new dwellings, residential accommodation, commercial, industrial and mixed-use developments based on development size and type, as part of the fees and charges.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE
1: An ecologically sustainable Inner West
2: Livable, connected neighbourhoods and transport
4: Healthy, resilient and caring communities  
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Council engaged ArborCarbon to undertake an aerial measurement of vegetation cover in 2022. The analysis was used to determine current canopy cover and assist in guiding strategic direction for the increase in canopy cover for the Inner West. The analysis indicates the tree canopy of the Inner West has reduced, from 17.7% in 2020 to 16.4% in 2022. Half of this loss is associated with State Government infrastructure projects
Council’s planting of 6,500 trees on Council managed land will also contribute to offsetting this reduction. This will equate to a modelled canopy increase of 8ha over the next five years.
Furthermore, the implementation of a more robust framework for tree replanting through the existing approval process will assist with compliance of replacement plantings, leading to an increase in tree canopy.
A framework is proposed that will strengthen conditions of consent for all approval types. The proposal includes a Council officer inspection and certification of compliance with landscape and replanting requirements paid for by applicants.
To facilitate the above, some tools and modifications to TechnologyOne are required to capture relevant data and provide follow up reporting.
There are at least two items, on the Agenda, of Council Meeting 10 October 2023, as well as answers to questions on notice, in relation to trees. https://innerwest.infocouncil.biz/Open/2023/08/C_08082023_AGN_4011_AT_WEB.htm

August 2023 Council Meeting Agenda17. Delivery Program 22-26 & Operational Plan 22-23 Quarter 4 Report

Item August 2023 Council Meeting Agenda17. Delivery Program 22-26 & Operational Plan 22-23 Quarter 4 Report
 
Item August 2023 Council Meeting Agenda17. Delivery Program 22-26 & Operational Plan 22-23 Quarter 4 Report

 

Agenda Council Meeting TUESDAY 10 September 2023 Item No: C1023(1) Item 35 Subject: Question on Notice: Trees and Biodiversity Budget

From:Councillor Marghanita Da Cruz Answers published on 3 oct 2023: 10pm) Council Agenda 10 Oct 2023

Question What is the annual budget for Trees & Biodiversity since amalgamation?

Answer

Activity ($,000)

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

Tree Planting

289

306

414

1,171

3,090

2,000

2,000

Tree Maintenance

1,391

1,476

1,506

1,502

1,500

1,501

1,600

Natural Area Management

545

630

664

565

610

695

780

Nursery incl Staffing & running costs

29

20

71

81

83

84

83

QuestionWhat grants have there been from State Government for Tree Planting and Biodiversity since Amalgamation?

Answer $600,000 as part of the Five Million trees for Greater Sydney grant program.

Question What funds are there from offsets for Trees and Biodiversity on Private Land and State Government Road Projects including multiple 
Stages of Westconnex, Rozelle Interchange, Iron Cove Link, Western Harbour Tunnel, Sydney Gateway etc.

Answer

Council is aware that all of these State Government projects have conditions of approval requiring the project contractor retain as many existing trees as possible and deliver an increase in trees overall. 

Most of these projects have conditions about biodiversity conservation & offsets as well.

There are conditions about clearing being minimised to retain habitat, and conditions about biodiversity offsets, for example.

WCX Stage 3 had conditions related to Microbats and WCX Stage 2 had conditions related to Paperbark Swamp Forests and the Green & Gold Bell Frog.

There are also requirements for Construction Flora & Fauna Management Sub-plans to deal with biodiversity impacts at the construction phase

Question In total what is the amount of unspent funds in Biodiversity and Tree 
Funds (Budget, Grants and Offsets described in questions 1,2,3) since amalgamation

Answer

Savings/(Shortfall) UNDERSPEND ($,000)

Activity ($,000)

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

2022/23

Tree Planting

(46)

106

266

344

785

1,449

Tree Maintenance

127

92

1

141

(513)

(50)

Natural Area Management

48

176

90

8

(113)

(48)

Nursery incl Staffing & running costs

6

(29)

17

23

15

19

 

The 2022/23 tree planting program had an original budget of $2M. 

Within this budget line item, $550,000 was spent on tree planting, resulting in an underspend of $1.45M.

It should be noted that there were over 1,000 trees planted across the LGA in 2022/23 which satisfied our target. Expenses associated with this planting were largely charged to individual project budgets rather than the tree planting program budget.

Question

What is the Savings in unfilled positions related to Trees and 
Biodiversity since amalgamation

Answer

Savings/(Shortfall) Savings in unfilled positions

Activity ($,000)

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

2022/23

Employee Costs - Urban Forest

(12)

90

(18)

153

101

189

Employee Costs - Urban Ecology

301

9

6

264

400

587


Item No:              C1023(1) Item 7

Subject:              POST EXHIBITION - LIVING STREETS VERGE GARDEN AND ADOPT-A-SPOT POLICY

Or 

Item No:         C1023(1) Item 14

Subject:         PARRAMATTA ROAD CORRIDOR STAGE 1 - POST GATEWAY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

State Gov Gateway approval requires
  • "remove the proposed overall precinct/zone based tree canopy targets (including streets)
  • provide additional analysis demonstrating that the tree canopy targets (% of site area) and the deep soil target can be achieved on a site-by-site basis;"
Agenda and Papers for Tuesday 10 October 2023 council meeting here https://innerwest.infocouncil.biz/Open/2023/10/C_10102023_AGN_4013_AT_WEB.htm

Speaking at Council Meeting

If anyone would like to come to speak to council - you get 3min for or against an item and we hear from all speakers starting at 6.30pm at Ashfield. You can also connect via zoom. But you need to Register by 2pm next Tuesday at https://www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/about/forms/forms-by-category/other-general-forms-inner-west-council/register-to-speak-at-a-council-meeting

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