TOWN of Bassendean council has resolved to strengthen its approach to preserving tree canopy by requesting a review and update of relevant policies and strategies.

The review will consider increasing planting ratios and minimum sizes for replacement trees when mature trees are removed, as well as adjusting streetscape contribution fees to reflect the higher cost of achieving equivalent canopy coverage.

These changes aim to offset long-term canopy loss, maintain public amenity, and support council’s canopy targets.

The motion, moved by Town of Bassendean Mayor Kathryn Hamilton at the December 16 council meeting, specifically targets trees removed as a result of resident requests, planning approvals, or development applications.

It does not apply to trees that die naturally or need to be removed due to age or disease.

Under the current policy, removing one verge tree requires planting two replacement trees.

However, the town will explore whether higher ratios, such as three-to-one, might be more appropriate for mature trees with substantial canopy.

Cr Hamilton said if a mature tree is removed, a lot of tree canopy would be lost.

“To have two or three trees to replace that canopy seems reasonable,” she said.

Town of Bassendean infrastructure and sustainability director Shane Asmus acknowledged the challenge that some verges lack sufficient space for multiple replacement trees.

Council discussed the possibility of ratepayers paying for replacement trees to be planted in nearby locations if their verge cannot accommodate multiple trees.

“That’s a really good scenario I hadn’t even thought of,” Mr Asmus said.

“If we can’t fit them on the verge, plant them somewhere else and they pay for it.

“Certainly, could be considered.”

The review will also examine the minimum size of replacement trees to ensure they provide meaningful canopy contribution from the outset.

Cr Hamilton said while planting larger trees is riskier there was capacity to aim to plant larger trees.

“It doesn’t have to be a tree that’s enormous, but it could be a little bit larger,” she said.

She said planting multiple large trees is probably a better strategy in the event the resident experiences one out of three survivals.

Current fees and charges for tree replacement include the cost of the tree, labour and equipment for installation, and maintenance including watering for two years.

Mr Asmus said all these elements would be reviewed.

“We need to go through that in fact with all our fees and charges and just make sure that they’ve been reviewed and reflect what the actual cost is,” he said.

Cr Paul Poliwka asked whether the fee review aimed to increase per-tree costs or simply to account for planting multiple trees.

The mayor said appropriate fee structures were to be determined by the town’s investigation.

“What I’m getting at is if there are going to be three trees, for instance, planted instead of one because a ratepayer has asked for that tree to be removed, then obviously the request for what they might have to pay will be higher,” she said.

The town currently offers residents mature trees for $5 through its plants to residents program, which runs each winter and sold out quickly in its first year.

Chief executive officer Cameron Woods said the council’s replacement program costs are higher.

“Our fees and charges include watering for two years,” he said.

“A crew going out installing it and staking it and an annual inspection.

“Our fees are quite exorbitant when a mum and dad could buy it from the nursery and put it in themselves.”

Cr Hayden Long said investigating whether residents could opt to plant trees elsewhere on their private property instead of on verges was worthy of consideration.

“Instead of them getting a tree out the front, they would agree to look after a tree somewhere else on their block,” he said.

However, Mr Woods said the town has no compliance powers over private property.

“I think we’ve all mandated we’ve agreed as a council that a verge should have a shade tree in it,” he said.

“So, we don’t want the people’s ability to pick and choose whether they have one in the verge.”

Mr Asmus said certain trees are rated higher than others in terms of their environmental value, which could influence replacement ratios.

“If it’s a tree that’s not particularly considered to be important then does that warrant three to replace that for example?” he said.

“There are some factors I’d like to explore and put into the report.”

The motion was carried unanimously with revised documents to be presented to council within six months.