Immoderate pruning traumatises not only the tree
MAY 2019
Council operates an annual inspection program for all its trees and prunes them (if required) as follows:
- Annually, where the trees are beneath high voltage (HV) powerlines
- Every two years, where the trees are beneath low voltage (LV) and all other street trees.
Council is obliged – under the Electricity Safety (Electric Line Clearance) Regulations 2015 – to notify residents of its powerline pruning program, via their website and by public notice in the Port Phillip Leader.
The Electric Line Clearance Management Plan spells out obligations under the above Regulations, documents current pruning programs and provides an example of the Leader notice for your information.
Greening Port Phillip – An Urban Forest Approach is Council’s tree policy and strategy, which documents its objectives and procedures around tree management.
It includes details about its notification requirements for tree removals and, while not documented within that policy, Council also notifies residents where heavy pruning – such as pollarding or major canopy reduction – is to be done, due to the severity of such pruning and the concern it can cause within the community.
General powerline clearance pruning, however, does not constitute heavy pruning.
If interested in finding out more, go to Greening Port Phillip’s Summary of Actions.
Please contact ASSIST on 9209 6777 if you require anything further.