Some 8 years or so in the making, Council has reached this significant milestone toward a tree canopy offset trial. It’s endeavour to address one of the major causes of climate change takes this important step.
Council this week resolved that we write to the Minister for Planning requesting that approval be given for Council to implement a 10-year trial of the Council’s Tree Canopy Offset Scheme. This step was achieved after an exhaustive process in
- Identifying where our loss of tree canopy is occurring.
- Examining multiple potential solutions.
- Engaging with our community.
- Engaging with all local State Parliament representatives and candidates.
During this process we have utilised tools that have taught us much about what is happening to our tree stock. The most significant tool used was that of LiDAR. The data examined by this technology measured tree canopy changes on all properties between 2018 and 2024.
We have also learnt what is the difference in temperature that exists between tree lined streets and streets without canopy cover.
Importantly the use of LIDAR demonstrated that our largest loss of canopy has occurred on properties with development approvals that increased the built footprint from.
This learning sharpened our focus on what we needed to target to stop the decline. That is to focus on this group of properties. This means that current property owners are spared from being included in the scheme.
The State Minister for Planning holds the key. Only with his approval can the Trial commence.
We have been in ongoing dialogue with him as we researched this initiative. During those discussions he often reiterated that he would only consider our request if we could demonstrate that our community supported us.
This we have now done. They (our community) are overwhelmingly in support of our approach. They have been on the journey with us since we started the research.
So, Minister Champion. It is up to you.
This World 1st initiative has the potential to address what I suggest is the biggest challenge with climate change. The Heat Island Effect.
Im all for planting more trees & more trees but not just bc someone decides they want a pool in their back yard; the rest of Unley has to make up for that canopy loss. & I question the Horticulturalist Team that think after 40 years of bare Concrete verges in front of a factory on a road that is used now as a rat run for councils & dept. of transport traffic lanes into the city instead of main arterials to dig up and plant of all trees 8 Eucalyptus river Red Gums* and want to plant More around on Leader.WHO made that choice. It’s bad enough that we have the disastrous Queensland Box in our verges now, that drop plastic leaves Gumnuts waiting for a law suit*,bark that smothers everything & roots that invade homes, and a constant pickup by home owners that you want to maintain verges to beautify the street & an expense of road sweepers every 6 weeks possibly more due to loss of leaves & debris from the trees you want to add to that 10 fold* surely you could have found a better choice of tree like you did for Naire Tce where one of ex councillors lives & the local MP funny that the whole street was replanted at once for more suitable trees. To utilise this street Leah as a dumping ground for traffic and now a tree that belongs on the banks of the river is ludicrous,they need to be taken out and a more approriate tree planted
I also have an added comment on who decided to et the lecornu site rip down the street trees so that the boundaries to be accomadating to the lego block housing going up for the wealthy, what trees are they going to plant in place if they can find any room,Im sure it wont be river red gums??? probably the same as in Nairne Tce bc they are more asthectically appealing
I love the idea go for it.
It’s about our tree’s
They are so important.