Issues surrounding the need to retain, and grow, trees as essential infrastructure continue to emerge in our community.  Revisiting Greg Moore's outstanding talk can provide both inspiration and fact based evidence and strategies to support efforts to continue to advocate for trees as essential infrastructure.  

Sue Campbell has given us permission to include her submission on the website:  

 
BENALLA RURAL CITY

1 Bridge Street East Benalla 3672
 
Submission on Planning

13 November 2022
 
Permit No. PO 148/22

 
Removal of Tree 13 Bridge Street East Benalla 3672
 
I commend the Council for its report on the above mentioned tree by Enspec PTY
 
My concerns for the removal of this tree include
 

• It is Councils obligation to protect the residents from the predicted rise in deadly heatwaves.
• Forecasts of a sharp rise in deaths due to heatwaves, show street trees can reduce temperatures by as much as 10 deg.
• The trees planted in Bridge Street some 23 years ago were undertaken as a long term solution to this problem, to start removing them as they reach a size of usefulness to combat climate change is to defeat the original plans for Benalla.
• The species of tree i.e. Platinus Orientalis was carefully chosen after consultation with Mr. Kevin Heinz, expert in managing tree planting in suburban areas.
• The tree forms part of a well designed avenue its removal would not be in any way advantageous to the general landscape of the town, in fact its removal will be apparent for many years as a mistaken step by the Council.
• Is this stated Policy of Council and was it part of the original streetscape development process, or simply a convenient fall-back position now rather than a well thought through and deliberate strategy in which the community was consulted and involved.
• Is it known to the community that that the trees will be progressively replaced? Surely the original species selection was done in expectation of the tree’s permanence? Was there consultation and is this an agreed outcome? Is this approach generally adopted by Councils or simply a Benalla-centric practice?

 
Planting new trees will not help this situation for many years, how fortunate the citizens of this town are that a previous Council had the foresight to plan for the future; the removal of this tree would undermine the forward thinking of that enlightened council.
 
I refer to the Consultants report on the need to remove this tree and ask the Council to engage an expert on the use of root barriers as has been carried out on numerous sites around Melbourne on much larger trees.

Executive Summary - page 10 of report
 
The results of the executive summary undertaken by Enspec Environment conclude that:-
 
Damage to the front of the 13 Bridge Street West East, in the vicinity of the gas meter, is likely to be due to the influence of roots from the council tree. No significant roots were identified elsewhere along the frontage of the properties adjacent test area.
 
Pruning of the identified roots, or other root management options could be undertaken to resolve the issue.
 
I therefore request the Council to review their application to remove this tree.
 
 
Susan Campbell O.A M.
Landscape Architect .A.I.L.A.
(address provided)
 
13 November 2022

In her Greening Benalla action group report in late November Sue Campbell spoke with passion and her usual well researched position about a tree in Bridge Street near the Reject Shop area for which a removal application has been instituted.  The possible removal of the tree has caused Sue great concern.  Her presentation raised alarm bells for members of the group.   Read the Executive Summary of Sue's Submission to Benalla Rural City Council...

On December 12th a thought provoking post on the Benalla Community Notice Board Facebook page by Giulia Franchesci raised her concerns ...

"Hello Benalla people.... 
I believe we are at point if we don’t start to protect mature public shade trees, dangerous precedents are being set by Landowners and Council’s to remove any, and all, public trees that are considered “problematic”.
LET’S SAVE IT!!!
Over the last 40 or more years this tree has OXYGENATED, REFRESHED, SHADED and BEAUTIFED our little space on this planet. Benalla.
LET’S US GIVE A THANKS BY RESISTING HIS REMOVAL.
Every word or deed spent in his cause it will help.
Let’s learn to be responsible human beings.
Let’s protect what protects us.
Even the least environmental aware community members would probably prefer to park in shade away from our hot sun.
The tree is there for all of society’s benefit.
I am not sure if one land owner’s convenience should not have the right to destroy something that will benefit all of us for centuries."
With love Giulia"
GF

Bev Lee

Arising out of the 2022 BSFG Review, our group consists of Karen Nankervis, Judy Schwarzman, Sue Campbell, Kate Holmes and Christine Holmes.
 
At our first meeting on Tuesday 12th July, we decided on a name - Greening Benalla Focus Group, BSFG.
 
We discussed our interest and purpose as follows –

• Greening of the Benalla landscape by preserving existing vegetation and creating new green spaces and corridors.
• Our focus is health and wellbeing of the community and environment through involvement and education.

 
At this meeting Kate brought the BRC Health and Wellbeing Annual Action Plan 2022-2023 to our attention.  We felt we could make a contribution to many of the intended actions and outcomes contained within the document.

• We read through the document and from our notes Christine wrote a submission to the Plan, sent on 13th July.

• Of the ten Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing priorities, tackling climate change, increasing healthy and active living were specific areas of interest to our group.
• We have not had feedback or acknowledgement from the BRC Health and Wellbeing Steering committee.

 
Our second meeting, on the 26th July, was called abruptly as we found out through the Ensign funding was available for councils and community groups to apply for grants from The Living Local fund, to improve public spaces and streetscapes, due by 14th August.
​
We made the following decisions as an action plan in preparation to apply for funding.

• Identify potential spaces for greening. We came up with two potential spaces, both in Goodwin St. Benalla. We visited those spaces.
• Contact the appropriate people from BRC to determine who is responsible for those spaces.  (Judy sent an email 28th July)
• We intend to make an appointment to discuss our ideas with the BRC Planning/ Landscaping staff as well as Councillor Gail O'Brien in the coming week, as soon as we have above information.  

 
Christine Holmes, on behalf of the group.