❓ Hon Giz Watson questions the WAPC's lack of action regarding WALGA's concerns about protecting mature trees during subdivision. The answer details existing policies that indirectly support vegetation retention, but admits no direct steps were taken in response to WALGA's specific statements.
AnsweredQoN 5377Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to paragraphs 5.206 and 5.207 of Report No. 10 of the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs 'Overview of Petitions' dated 27 September 2007, and to the lack of any model tree policy or compulsion for local governments to protect mature trees in urban areas, and I ask -
(1) What steps have been taken to address the statements made by the Western Australian Local Government Association that 'the initial opportunity to identify and protect large mature trees is at the approval of subdivision stage. An appropriate consideration of such vegetation that could enhance future streetscapes and public open space does not appear to be a realised opportunity during the subdivisional assessment process, undertaken by the Western Australian Planning Commission' and that 'a much greater emphasis is required by State planning authorities in the identification and incorporation of high value natural assets into the land use planning framework'?
(2) Please provide full details including tabling relevant documents.
(1) What steps have been taken to address the statements made by the Western Australian Local Government Association that 'the initial opportunity to identify and protect large mature trees is at the approval of subdivision stage. An appropriate consideration of such vegetation that could enhance future streetscapes and public open space does not appear to be a realised opportunity during the subdivisional assessment process, undertaken by the Western Australian Planning Commission' and that 'a much greater emphasis is required by State planning authorities in the identification and incorporation of high value natural assets into the land use planning framework'?
(2) Please provide full details including tabling relevant documents.
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 May 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Planning
Response time
35 days
(1) No direct steps have been taken by the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) in response to the statements made by the Western Australian Local Government Association, referred to in the Report cited. The WAPC already considers a range of policies which support the retention of existing vegetation where applicable.
(2) The WAPC's land use planning framework includes the following current or draft documents and provisions of relevance to this issue:
(a)
State Planning Policy No. 2 Environment and Natural Resources Policy
(June 2003), which includes the following provision:
Planning strategies, schemes and decision making should:
...
5.10 Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy Efficiency
...
(ii) Support the retention of existing vegetation and revegetation in subdivision and development proposals;
(b)
Liveable Neighbourhoods
(October 2007), Element 2 Movement Network, which
requires a setback distance for the provision of street trees that provide a generous canopy in most streets (except rear laneways) for pedestrian shade and shelter, streetscape amenity, and traffic management.
(c)
Planning Bulletin 97
(May 2009):
Proposed Street Tree and Utility Planning Amendments to Liveable Neighbourhoods and Development Control Policy 1.3 Strata Titles
, which explains proposed changes to the street trees and utility planning clauses in Liveable Neighbourhoods and Development Control Policy 1.3 Strata Titles and draws attention to the WAPC's Discussion Paper "Street Trees and Utility Planning" (May 2009).
(d)
Draft Structure Plan Preparation Guidelines
(2011), which require landowners, a landowner's representative or a local government responsible for the preparation of a proposed structure plan to
undertake an environmental assessment and management strategy which includes the identification of environmental assets (including flora, 'Bush Forever' policies, Threatened Ecological Communities (TEC), vegetation, fauna, fauna habitat, wetlands and rivers) and constraints on the site and on adjoining land and to discuss how the identified environmental assets have been addressed by the structure plan
.
All of these documents are available on line on the WAPC's website at www.planning.wa.gov.au.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
(2) The WAPC's land use planning framework includes the following current or draft documents and provisions of relevance to this issue:
(a)
State Planning Policy No. 2 Environment and Natural Resources Policy
(June 2003), which includes the following provision:
Planning strategies, schemes and decision making should:
...
5.10 Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy Efficiency
...
(ii) Support the retention of existing vegetation and revegetation in subdivision and development proposals;
(b)
Liveable Neighbourhoods
(October 2007), Element 2 Movement Network, which
requires a setback distance for the provision of street trees that provide a generous canopy in most streets (except rear laneways) for pedestrian shade and shelter, streetscape amenity, and traffic management.
(c)
Planning Bulletin 97
(May 2009):
Proposed Street Tree and Utility Planning Amendments to Liveable Neighbourhoods and Development Control Policy 1.3 Strata Titles
, which explains proposed changes to the street trees and utility planning clauses in Liveable Neighbourhoods and Development Control Policy 1.3 Strata Titles and draws attention to the WAPC's Discussion Paper "Street Trees and Utility Planning" (May 2009).
(d)
Draft Structure Plan Preparation Guidelines
(2011), which require landowners, a landowner's representative or a local government responsible for the preparation of a proposed structure plan to
undertake an environmental assessment and management strategy which includes the identification of environmental assets (including flora, 'Bush Forever' policies, Threatened Ecological Communities (TEC), vegetation, fauna, fauna habitat, wetlands and rivers) and constraints on the site and on adjoining land and to discuss how the identified environmental assets have been addressed by the structure plan
.
All of these documents are available on line on the WAPC's website at www.planning.wa.gov.au.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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