FAQs

The Trees of Significance Inventory, adopted in 1999, aims to protect trees of significant value within the City of Vincent by requiring Council approval for the removal or significant pruning of a listed tree.

The Inventory currently consists of 27 listings, with 9 trees located on private property.

The Policy details the nomination process for listing a tree on the Inventory, clarifies when approval is required for work associated with a listed tree and provides information the Trees of Significance Assistance Fund. This fund provides matched funding to owners of listed trees up to $2000.

Administration’s review of the existing Policy No. 7.6.3 is intended to make it easier for landowners to nominate a tree for inclusion in the Inventory, expands the nomination criteria and aims to simplify processes for maintenance of registered trees. It includes the following:

• Proposes to allow for third parties to nominate trees. Any nomination would require approval at a Council meeting.
• Provides greater guidance on the criteria needed to nominate a tree to the Inventory.
• Remove the requirement to provide an arborist report (at owners cost) at lodgment of a nomination. 
• Allows for owners of listed trees to undertake simple maintenance on a tree without requiring Council approval.
• Expands the incentive program to:
  • include free arborist advice.
  • Consider departures to development standards should a landowner wish to retain a tree as part of redevelopment.

Under the current Policy, a tree may be considered to be significant and worthy of inclusion onto the City of Vincent's Trees of Significance Inventory if one or more of the criteria are found to be present:

1. outstanding aesthetic quality;
2. outstandingly large height, trunk circumference or canopy spread;
3. commemoration or association with particular historical or cultural events; d) association with a well known public figure or ethnic group;
4. specimen of great age;
5. outstanding example of a particular species;
6. rare or unusual species; or
7. horticultural, genetic or propagative value;
8. likely to be a remnant or regrowth local native tree.

The amended Policy seeks to change this criteria to the following:

• Healthy specimens with ongoing viability; and
• Species is not included on a National, State or local area weed register; and
• Height of at least 4m. Xanthorrhoea species from a height of at least 1.2m and banksia species from a height of at least 3m will be considered; and/or
• Trunk diameter of at least 160mm, measured 1m from the ground; and/or
• Average canopy diameter of at least 4m; and/or
• Any other species likely to be a remnant or regrowth local native tree with a height or canopy width deemed significant by the city; and/or
• Any mature specimens that provide habitat or food for local fauna. For example, Banksia and Hakea are known food sources for the Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo; and/or
• Established trees that are significant from an aboriginal heritage perspective. This can include Nuytsia Floribunda (Western Australian Christmas tree)