Draft Tree Canopy Plan submission is a joint submission by the North Harbour Community Group, Balgowlah Residents’ Group, Baringa Bush Residents’ Group (Seaforth), Manly Community Forum and North Balgowlah community network.

The Draft Tree Canopy Plan is comprehensive. It acknowledges and identifies many of the issues of concern for residents in relation to the challenges facing the amalgamated council in improving both the quantity and quality of the tree canopy cover across the Northern Beaches LGA.

However, the Draft Plan is limited in its focus on trees within the urban environment. Community groups believe the council should be developing an Urban Forest Strategy, which encompasses all vegetation and habitat and the functions and species they support, not only trees greater than 3m in height. Within a broader Urban Forest Strategy, the tree canopy plays a vital role in creating and maintaining a healthy urban forest environment.

We support the council adopting the Draft Tree Canopy Plan subject to consideration of our recommendation that councillors accept that the creation of an overarching Urban Forest Strategy should be a high priority for the near future.

In relation to trees on council-owned land (primarily street and park trees) we understand and appreciate why they are currently managed by the Parks & Recreation Department, under the umbrella of the Transport & Infrastructure Division. However, given the wider importance of the tree canopy as an integral part of an urban forest environment, we believe the management of street and park trees is better aligned with the Environment & Sustainability Division. We understand this would require a change to the council’s organisation structure – and we ask this be seriously considered.

The entire 15 page submission can be read here NBC Draft Tree Canopy Plan.