CALL FOR RESIDENTS TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS ON OUR TREES
Residents are encouraged to take part in Dubbo Regional Council’s (DRC) community consultation on a new Tree Preservation Order that could protect trees on private property.
Council is seeking community input on the potential introduction of a new Tree Preservation Order, which could provide for greater protection of trees on private property in the urban areas and other native vegetation within the Local Government Area. This Tree Preservation Order would be introduced through the State Environmental Planning Policy (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021.
A Tree Preservation Order and associated Significant Tree Register had been in place for the past three decades with Council responsible for the management of public trees within the urban area of Dubbo. As part of this plan, the management and responsibility of trees located on private property was given over to the owner of the land, except where trees were identified as ‘significant’.
Prior to the amalgamation the former Wellington Council did not have a Tree Preservation Order in place.
At the July Ordinary Council Meeting, Councillors resolved to undertake community consultation regarding the options for urban tree management regulation on private property including urban tree height and size options and administration fee structure options.
“As the first step in the decision-making process, Council is asking the community to take part in a survey and provide feedback. This feedback will be used in the development of a report back to Council in October,” Dubbo Regional Council Mayor Mathew Dickerson said.
“During this community consultation phase it will provide Councillors additional time to seek further information from the community on the management of urban trees that can also be considered in future decision making.”
Residents are encouraged to vote on the size of trees and the administrative fee structure they would like to see included in the policy.
Adoption of the State Environment Planning Policy (SEPP) (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021 would also enable Council to manage exotic and native vegetation within the urban areas of the Local Government Area. Under the SEPP (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021 Council can define the extent of its application and define what permits are required for the clearing of urban vegetation; defined species; trees above a certain height or within certain mapped urban areas.
The Tree Preservation Order survey is now available on Your Say. You can visit the https://yoursay.dubbo.nsw.gov.au/tree-preservation-order-consultation to take part in the survey and have your say. The survey will be open until 5pm 8 September 2023.
Last Edited: 17 Aug 2023