The future of Whitehorse’s greenery has become an unexpected fault line in the upcoming state election, with the Coalition, state government and local councils clashing over whether new laws do enough to protect established trees.
The debate has flared up over the past month after a Box Hill South homeowner heavily cut back a significant river red gum, despite a council arborist determining it was safe.
How’d we get here? Whitehorse Council previously relied on overlay laws to protect significant trees and vegetation.
Introduced in February 2018, the overlay had its expiry date extended nine times before the state Planning Minister allowed it to lapse in mid-June, arguing the need for the council-wide provision had been superseded by new statewide planning controls.
The current rules: Last September, the state government introduced statewide canopy tree controls aimed at protecting and increasing vegetation cover in residential areas.
The new rules mean landowners aren’t required to seek permits to remove, destroy or heavily cut back a tree in some circumstances, including for certain trees on properties already developed.
The Planning Minister’s office did not respond to requests for comment on why the government let the protection lapse or how other controls aim to protect significant tree canopy.
Opposition pushback: The Coalition has pledged to reinstate the old council regulations if elected, with Liberal candidate for Box Hill Sally Houguet saying retaining significant canopy trees was important for neighbourhood amenity.
🗣️ “We know that tree canopy keeps local areas cooler in a warming area,” she said.
Local losses: About a month ago, the owners of a property in Box Hill South contacted Whitehorse Council to request an arborist's assessment of whether a river red gum on their property was dangerous.
Whitehorse mayor Kirsten Langford said council’s arborist found it was a “healthy, structurally sound and significant canopy tree”. Despite this, the tree was cut down in early to mid-October.
🗣️ “We are disappointed that a tree of this significance has been removed and believe its loss may have been avoided had the SLO9 controls been extended,” she told the Eastern Melburnian.
Residents’ reaction: Speaking to the Eastern Melburnian, nearby resident Anusha said she believed the tree should have been protected due to its heritage and canopy value.
🗣️ “It’s part of our community,” she said. “I think the enormity of the light that’s gone needs to be recognised.”
What’s next: Whitehorse Council has continued to use its existing landscape and tree protection controls to support the retention and protection of locally significant trees.
The council also recently voted to receive a report into using local laws to increase the protections around local canopy trees.