❓ A parliamentary question regarding the implications of the Zorzi v Town of Cambridge SAT decision on tree removal constituting development and the status of the Perth and Peel urban greening strategy. The Minister's response acknowledges the established case law and states further announcements on the strategy will be made.
AnsweredQoN 537Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
State Administrative Tribunal—Zorzi v Town of Cambridge537.Hon Neil Thomsonto
theparliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Planning and Lands:I refer to the recent State Administrative Tribunal decision
in Zorzi v Town of Cambridge [2025] WA SAT 77 delivered on 28 July.(1) Is the minister aware that the decision has
significant implications because it determined that works associated with
removing a tree constituted development owing to factors including the size and
context of the tree?(2) Is the minister aware of the uncertainty that this
decision has created in which tree removal constitutes development?(3) Has the minister requested advice from the Western
Australian Planning Commission or the Department of Planning, Lands and
Heritage on this matter and, if yes, can he table that advice?(4) When will the minister finalise the long-promised
Perth and Peel urban greening strategy, noting the government's announcement on
this dates back to 9 February 2024?
theparliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Planning and Lands:I refer to the recent State Administrative Tribunal decision
in Zorzi v Town of Cambridge [2025] WA SAT 77 delivered on 28 July.(1) Is the minister aware that the decision has
significant implications because it determined that works associated with
removing a tree constituted development owing to factors including the size and
context of the tree?(2) Is the minister aware of the uncertainty that this
decision has created in which tree removal constitutes development?(3) Has the minister requested advice from the Western
Australian Planning Commission or the Department of Planning, Lands and
Heritage on this matter and, if yes, can he table that advice?(4) When will the minister finalise the long-promised
Perth and Peel urban greening strategy, noting the government's announcement on
this dates back to 9 February 2024?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 August 2025
Response time
0 days
Hon Dr Katrina Stratton
replied:I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question. The following answer has been provided to me by the Minister for
Planning and Lands.(1)–(3) As the decision stated, the fact
that the clearing of trees and vegetation can constitute development is well established
in case law.(4) Preparation of the strategy is a significant
undertaking and further announcements will be made in due course.
State Administrative Tribunal—Zorzi v Town of Cambridge
replied:I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question. The following answer has been provided to me by the Minister for
Planning and Lands.(1)–(3) As the decision stated, the fact
that the clearing of trees and vegetation can constitute development is well established
in case law.(4) Preparation of the strategy is a significant
undertaking and further announcements will be made in due course.
State Administrative Tribunal—Zorzi v Town of Cambridge
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