02 6499 2222 council@begavalley.nsw.gov.au
Bega Valley Commemorative Civic Centre South East Centre for Contemporary Art (SECCA) Bega Valley Shire Library Sapphire Aquatic Centre Sapphire Coast Tourism
Have your say

Tree management on Council managed public land

Council's position in relation to tree and vegetation management on Council owned and Council managed land in urban areas.

Tree across walking track.
Fallen tree cross walking track.

 

The Bega Valley Shire is the largest local government area in coastal NSW. With rugged coastlines and mountain ranges, our bushland and natural areas are highly valued by many in the community. Council understands and recognises the value of urban trees and vegetation as a community asset worthy of retention, protection and expansion.

Urban tree and vegetation management can be a contentious and emotive issue as there is often a range of opinions, experiences and interests which need to be considered. In order to clarify Council’s position in relation to tree and vegetation management, Council adopted Policy 3.13 - Tree and vegetation on Council-managed public land in urban areas, in July 2023.

Tree management work is a risk-based approach. Our highest priority is to manage and limit risk to life and personal injury associated with existing trees on Council-managed land.

The following three primary issues are prioritised in tree management works and response to reports and enquiries.

  • Target areas under a tree: How often the area under the tree is used or if items are at risk of getting damaged and whether or not the items are stationary.  
  • The likelihood of failure: The condition of the tree or limbs.
  • The consequence of failure: The size of the tree or limb and impact it is likely to have if it failed (e.g. consideration of targets, what it could hit and what damage  it could do).  

The removal of fallen trees from natural areas is something that is generally not done by Council unless it is blocking a path or access-way, this is because:

  1. Fallen vegetation is part of the ecological process,
  2. Access is often difficult, and
  3. Removal would be time consuming and expensive.

To assist with vegetation management in natural areas with difficult access, Council is investigating the viability of conducting controlled ‘pile burns’. Aside from providing an additional hazard reduction measure, controlled burns can have ecological benefits.

Bushfire hazard reduction enquiries

The NSW Rural Fire Service is the agency responsible for inspecting and assessing bushfire hazard and issuing notices to landowners / managers to undertake bushfire hazard reduction activities. If you have concerns about bushfire risk or hazard reduction works, it is best for those to be made directly to the RFS. The easiest way to do this is by using the RFS website Reporting a bushfire hazard page or contact the Bega Valley South Coast office on 02 6494 7400. Once an assessment is done the RFS will direct the land manager to undertake works if required.

More information

For more information please read Council's Policy 3.13 Tree and vegtation on Council management public land in urban area. This policy can be accessed from our Public Policies page by searching for the term ‘Tree and vegetation or 3.13’ or please contact Council’s Parks and Recreation Services Coordinator on (02) 6499 2222.

 

Was this helpful?


© Bega Valley Shire Council 2024

Our council websites

Contact Us

Follow us

Sign up for newsletters