KALAMUNDA residents are calling on the city to protect and retain trees, with demands for the creation of a significant tree register back in discussion following a meeting of electors.

Nature Reserves Preservation Group (NRPG) president Steve Gates said in the February 25 general meeting of electors that there needed to be a heritage tree register.

Mr Gates said a significant tree register did not appear to be a priority for the City of Kalamunda as it was first discussed in 1999 and nothing has come of it since.

“While I was involved for eight years with the community environmental sustainability advisory committee (CESAC) in the 2000s we did develop a draft listing and definition of significant tree attributes, neither of these has materialised in any form by the city since then,” he said.

“NRPG has requested in our latest budget request for 2025-26 that this be one of the items budgeted for.

“Residents should know that our iconic trees in Kalamunda will be cared for, for their historic, environmental and cultural values.

“This is not a new proposal and NRPG does not understand why it has fallen by the way.”

Mr Gates said there were a number of other strategies which have also not progressed or languished for many years or decades.

“To be fair, the new chief executive officer as of last July, has committed to addressing this issue and we hope to see progress in the next year or so,” he said.

City of Kalamunda Mayor Margaret Thomas said she acknowledged the community interest in the matter and noted there was potential to include one in an upcoming local planning scheme review.

“The City of Kalamunda does not currently have a significant tree register in place; however, there is potential to include one within local planning schemes,” she said.

“While the city’s local planning scheme 3 does not currently feature such a list, this may be explored as part of the next scheme review.

“The city has received resident feedback regarding tree retention and protection, particularly through past engagement processes and at the 2025 annual general meeting of electors.

“There remains strong community interest in this matter.”

As reported in Kalamunda’s tree policy response a wakeup call, residents at the general electors meeting were also interested in seeing a return of Kalamunda’s revoked tree retention policy.

Mr Gates said the revocation of the tree retention policy meant there was no protection for the special and cherished icons of the community as seen with the recent McDonald’s restaurant and carwash application.

“It is just luck that the DA proposes to keep just two of the trees,” he said.

“On the last count that NRPG is aware of, there were only 16 trees listed on the significant tree register that was drafted in the 2000’s by CESAC.

“NRPG requests funding for resources to dramatically increase the entries on this list, including importantly any significant native vegetation areas, thereby acknowledging the importance of such trees and understory highlighting the need to help preserve them.”