The Strathfield Council street tree program commenced in the 1880s and is responsible for the distinctive streetscape appearance, which characterises the Strathfield Municipality.

Street trees beautify the landscape, enhance property values and contribute to a range of other environmental benefits for the community such as:

• Reduction of air and storm water pollutants

• Reduction and storage of carbon from the atmosphere
• Reduction of stormwater water run off volumes
• Reduction of temperature and associated cooling/heating costs for housing
• Atmospheric cooling
• Production of oxygen for atmosphere

These environmental benefits also provide cost savings for the community

About 50% of the total 12,000 street trees in Strathfield Municipality are brush box plantings. Other major street trees species include water gums (12%) paper bark (4%), Chinese tallow (4%), Eucalyptus (4%) etc. 90% of street trees are Australian native species.

Strathfield Council’s street tree program supports maintenance, protection and replacement of diseased or dying street trees.

Who looks after street trees?

Strathfield Council regularly checks and carries out any necessary pruning, removal and replacement of street trees planted on your nature strip. If you require assistance in managing the street tree e.g. requires pruning, broken limbs, tree roots, pruning, removal, dead or diseased trees etc in front of your property, contact Council’s Customer Service Centre on 9748 9999.

Do not under any circumstances, cut or damage Council’s street trees as this may be subject to legal action.

Who looks after trees in parks and reserves?

Strathfield Council manages trees in public parks and reserves. Trees are regularly checked and Council carries out any necessary pruning, removal and replacement of trees in parks and reserves. If you require assistance or want to report damage or problems, contact Council’s Customer Service Centre on 9748 9999.  Do not under any circumstances, cut or damage Council’s trees as this may be subject to legal action.

Council Trees and Development

Strathfield Council has adopted a policy of tree protection bond ranging from $3,000.00 (for each tree under 5 metres in height) to $50,000.00 for each significant trees or each tree over 50 years of age.

Conditions with all development consents will be imposed to protect all Council trees from development related damage.  These development consents conditions may also require replacement of any missing or damaged street trees at the full cost to the applicant..

Street trees must be considered at the early design stage.

In order to protect existing trees the use of existing driveway crossings and laybacks is preferred.  Council may refuse a request for a new relocated driveway crossing and layback if the proposed work has the potential to cause damage to the Council tree assets.

Ancillary structures and drainage pipes and pits should not be located within the canopy dripline of a council tree asset

Council requires trunk branch and perimeter fencing to protect Council tree assets.

Arboricultural Impact Statements and Tree Management Plans may be required for Council’s consideration to address the impact and management of Council tree asset issues.

All Council tree assets shall be protected in accordance with Protection of Trees on Development Sites (AS 4970-2009). To be effective all those working on a development site, not just the project arborists, have to value the trees on and adjacent to the site and this standard must be properly incorporated into the plans, specifications, site induction documentation and procedures for these development sites by all property owners, site managers and contractors.

All complaints concerning Council tree asset damage will be considered a breach of development consent or planning law and result in investigation by Council’s regulatory Services staff. Penalties for failing to protect a Council tree may include the forfeit of the Tree Protection Bond and/or issue of a penalty Infringement Notice or legal action be Council with Court Orders.

2019 Street Tree Planting Program

At the April 2018 Meeting, Council resolved to embark on a street tree planting program in order to increase our urban forest, mitigate ‘heat island effect’ and improve the environment in our local government area. As a result, 443 new street trees have been planted in 2019.

The following species were planted on nature strips:

• Ivory Curl Flower
• Red Flowering Bottlebrush
• Jacaranda
• Crepe Myrtle
• Queensland Brush Box
• Queensland Firewheel Tree
• Magenta Lilly Pilly
• Water Gum

All trees have been established prior to planting with a minimum height of 1.9m and a maximum height of 2.4m.

Strathfield Council has engaged Summit Open Space Services to Australian Standards and tree industry best practice guidelines. The program commenced in June 2019 and was completed in November 2019.

Residents were notified by Summit Open Space Services prior to the planting taking place.

Council encourages residents to be proactive in the greening of our area by watering the planted trees each week during spring and summer.