Mary Street Trees: My Requests To Vincent Council

Tuesday 19th September.

I took the opportunity to address Vincent Council about what happened to the Mary Street trees and the need to ensure there is no recurrence either there or in respect of any other Trees of Significance in Vincent.

I'll be keeping an eye on this issue, hoping that Vincent Council will follow up.

A few weeks ago, City of Vincent contractor, Beaver Tree Services, severely cut back five of the Hills Weeping Fig trees at the William Street end of Mary Street

I have been informed that the work carried out went far beyond what was approved on the basis of “normal tree maintenance”.

This has totally changed the aesthetics of this highly-valued treescape, probably permanently. Instead of welcoming shade when turning into Mary Street in summer, people will still feel the full force of the sun.

I understand that the works were carried out at the request of the adjoining property owner on the basis that: the trees were encroaching over the property and roof of their buildings and continuously depositing leaf debris in their gutters.

This, in itself, sets a dangerous precedent for Mary Street, as almost every property owner could probably make a similar claim.

Indeed, I recall that when I was on Council we had a similar type of problem with root invasion from the Mary Street trees that could have resulted in compromising the integrity of the streetscape. This was resolved by Council carefully considering a range of options for the whole street, rather than simply responding to the initial request in isolation.

The CEO has assured me that the City’s staff followed Council policies on Street Trees and Trees of Significance. I am not doubting this was so, but what happened to the Mary Street trees demonstrates an urgent need for improvement of those policies, including:

1.    More effective requirement to ensure that contractors do not start work on trees of significance without supervision by Vincent staff.

2.    Penalties for non-compliance with the Street Trees and Trees of Significance policies.

3.    Development of specific management plans for each of the four listed street treescapes: Mabel Street, Mary Street, Money Street and Monger Street.

4.    Requiring that external requests for works on any Trees of Significance be notified to Council, with an officer report on actions to be taken, so that elected members are
(a) informed; and
(b) have the opportunity to require further consideration, including community consultation, before the works are carried out.

In addition, I request that:

1.    The Mary Street treescape be nominated for inclusion on the WA State Heritage Register. There are currently 20 trees or groups of trees on the register and the heritage values of the Mary Street trees are enhanced by the proximity of the Sacred Heart group of buildings that are also on the State Heritage Register.

2.    Where substantial limbs are removed from trees, alternatives to re-use the timber, rather than simply chipping the ‘prunings’, be investigated.

3.    Council and the community be advised of what action is taken against the contractor.