The urban streetscape is an important part of any town. Council’s long-term vision and strategy is to increase the tree canopy in a way that reflects the different characteristics of each town and region. Capital budget has been allocated each year to implement these works on selected streets.

A healthy urban streetscape has shown to be critical in maintaining the health and liveability of our townships, through:

• Improving and maintaining the health, well being and happiness of our residents and visitors
• Increasing property values
• Cleaning air and water
• Creating attractive tree-lined streets that encourage people to visit, work and live locally
• Sequestering and storing carbon
• Providing habitat for native fauna
• Creating healthier ecosystems

Council has selected a range of trees that have been shown to perform well in streetscapes and are suitable for the conditions and surrounding infrastructure. When determining the species selection, the following factors were taken into account:

• Neighborhood character (existing street tree species)
• The ability of the species to survive and adapt to future climate changes
• Available planting space (nature strip width and length, light poles, crossovers)
• Above- and below-ground services (powerlines, gas, water etc)
• Potential future works (footpaths, road renewals)

For more on street trees, head to Urban Tree and Foreshore Reserve Vegetation Management Procedure.

Which streets or areas will get new trees?

Council plants trees on selected streets each year, aiming to increase canopy cover across towns and regions. Locations are chosen based on resident requests, replacement needs, new developments and urban road improvement projects.

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What species will be planted?

Trees are selected considering the following factors:

• Site conditions, including utilities (power, water, gas etc.), soil profile and space available
• Existing vegetation in the locality
• Futureproofing for expected climate change
• Minimising ongoing maintenance requirements for Council

Native species are preferred where possible, but a mix non-natives is considered to complement existing species and manage pests and diseases.

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How are planting locations decided?

Council considers:

• Resident requests
• Replacement needs
• Opportunities to expand canopy
• Town character and infrastructure constraints

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Environmental and Climate Benefits

What benefits do trees provide?

• Shade: Cooler streets in summer, sun in winter
• Amenity: Attractive streets, improved wellbeing and property values
• Biodiversity: Supports native fauna, conserves plants, and balances ecosystems

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Are trees suitable for future climate conditions?

Yes, species are chosen to survive heat, drought, and changing local climates.

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How do trees support wildlife?

Indigenous plantings provide food and habitat for native species, help conserve rare plants, and maintain ecological balance.

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Infrastructure and Safety

Will trees damage footpaths, kerbs, or underground services?

Council plans tree placement carefully, considering:

• Space for roots and canopy
• Nearby utilities and driveways
• Engineering solutions like root barriers and permeable paving

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What about powerlines and road safety?

• Trees under powerlines are pruned for clearance and appropriate specie selection.
• Road safety maintained through crown lifting, setbacks, and pruning

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Resident Participation

Can residents request or nominate tree locations?

Yes. East Gippsland Shire Councils Urban Tree and Foreshore Vegetation Procedure allow residents to plant 1 tree per lot. Residents must seek approval from Council for the species of tree they propose to plant. For larger lot’s, residents can request in writing for more than 1 tree to be planted on their nature strip.

How is feedback handled?

Residents can provide feedback via:

• Tree planting requests
• Incident reports for tree concerns
• Permit applications for work near trees

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Maintenance and Costs

Who maintains the trees?

• Council maintains all street trees on Council land
• Residents who plant trees themselves are responsible for watering and care until establishment
• Council’s footpath and street-sweeping program maintains debris fall for natural leaf and flower drop.

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What do I do if a branch or tree fails?

• Contact Council and officers will attend to the failure. It is important that Council is notified of large limb or tree failure to examine the reason behind the failure and any trends in a tree or locality.

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Will new trees be watered during dry periods?

• Yes, Council waters new trees and encourages residents to assist during establishment. Mulching is used to retain water.

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Are there costs to residents?

• No, if Council plants and maintains the tree
• Residents pay only for private plantings or removals

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How are trees protected?

• Legal protections prevent damaging trees on Council land
• Physical protections include stakes, guards, and monitoring

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Timeline and Monitoring

When are trees planted and established?

• Planting occurs from late autumn to spring
• Stakes and guards removed after ~2 years
• Residents encouraged to water during establishment

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How does Council monitor trees?

• High-risk areas: yearly inspections
• Low-risk areas: 3-year inspection cycle
• Inspections focus on safety, health and replacement needs – based on normal climatic conditions

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Is there a canopy target?

Council aims to increase tree canopy across towns in line with the Environmental Sustainability Strategy, though no specific percentages are detailed.