Ask first, plant second

Bathurst residents are being encouraged to seek advice from Council prior to planting trees within footpath areas of residential properties within Bathurst.

Mayor of Bathurst Cr Bobby Bourke said trees are an important part of a healthy streetscape, especially within an urban environment. They provide amenity to the street, help to reduce ambient temperatures within residential subdivisions and provide essential habitat to many native animals that need to coexist within our built environment.”

“In addition to the thousands of trees, shrubs and ground cover plantings undertaken each year within the Bathurst Region, Council also provides a street tree planting program of appropriate street trees as new residential subdivisions come online. The tree species selection and their planting locations are carefully selected in respect to the mature growing size of the tree, shade and sunlight requirements, service locations, access and visibility requirements for pedestrians and essential road safety requirements that must be complied with. Council generally allocates one tree per residential property when new subdivisions are being developed.”

“If residents wish to plant additional trees within the verge area, it is essential that they first contact Council for advice and permission. Trees, shrubs and other plantings are not to block verge access for pedestrians or service authorities, nor create sight visibility issues or restrictions to road users.”

“Residents are also restricted from constructing such items as garden beds or placing landscaping hardworks / infrastructure within the verge areas, especially without prior Council approval.”

“There are specific alignments within the road verge where trees and shrubs should not be planted, and there are clearance requirements that need to be maintained in relation to electricity infrastructure, driveways and street intersections,” Cr Bourke said.

Approval from Council before planting will ensure that residents and property owners are not subjected to expensive removal costs, should inappropriate plantings within the verge become a concern as these trees or shrubs grow to maturity. Council also encourages property owners and residents to ensure that any vegetation within their property is regularly pruned to ensure that it does not restrict pedestrian access within the verge. This is especially the case where vegetation encroaches onto concrete paths that are used by people with mobility aids and wheel chairs.

For more information on street tree planting within Bathurst, Council’s Recreation Section can be contacted on 6333 6285.