Street Tree Masterplan Amendments

This consultation has concluded.

The BMCC Street tree masterplan was placed on public exhibition in April/May 2010 and adopted by the Council in August 2010. A local community group has subsequently assessed all streets in Blackheath to include them in the Masterplan. These plans are available in the library to download and read and you are invited to view them and provide comment by clicking on the Guest book tab below.

Planning for the succession of aging street trees is a significant issue in many Mountain's towns, while the street environment has become increasingly constrained with underground and overhead services and much higher standards for roads, kerbs and driveways. In this context sightlines in the street must be maintained. Council's Street tree Masterplan sets out the required technical standards and the species themes for major roads throught the mountains.

The Blackheath Streetscape Group (BSG) is a group of local residents of 10 years standing who have worked with council on numerous street tree projects. Their expertise includes the services of a retired local nurseryman and representation on a local bushcare team. In 2010, using principles discussed with Council's Urban Designer, the BSG undertook a survey of all residential streets in Blackheath to allocate street tree themes. This very significant field work is the basis for the maps which are now presented for public comment.

In July this year we had a Windstorm natural disaster in the upper mountains which makes these maps particularly timely. As such BMCC is proposing an amendment to the Street tree Masterplan by way of 2 x new maps and a revised species list.

This consultation has concluded.

Selection criteria for Street Trees

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Not only must trees be hardy to the climate and soils, they need to meet a long list of other criteria to be a "competent" street tree in today's urban environments - including:
- have a reliable form - an elevated canopy and single trunk are needed to keep sightlines open for traffic and security reasons;
- needing to be long lived - many fast-growing trees tend to be short lived. Some research indicates that a tree starts to justify the investment in its planting and growth after 23 years;
- not a weed - and unlikely to become one;
- whether deciduous or evergreen - every site should be assessed on its merits for sun/shade requirements.
There are many more - these can be found in the Street Tree Masterplan at section 1.4 Species Selection.
The work of the Blackheath Streetscape Group

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The Blackheath Streetscape Group (BSG) undertook significant fieldwork to assess all streets in Blackheath and recommend a street tree theme for almost all streets in the town. Only a few streets with no room for planting are not included.

The BSG group used prinicples discussed with Council's Urban Designer including:
- Recognition of existing plantins that were worthy of repetition for example, the Flowering Cherries in Hat Hill Road, or the Plane Trees in Neate Park;
- Recognition of limits to exotic species and the use of indigenous species on town edges in particular; and
- The technical specification required for a "competent" street tree, i.e. single trunk, elevated canopy, long lived, etc.
Note that all species are assessed for weed potential to avoid trees that are existing weeds or are likely to be problematic in the future.