Street Trees
Street trees provide enormous benefits to the community including physical, visual, environmental, social, and economical. City of Prospect manages approximately 14,500 street trees. Council has a proactive approach to the maintenance of these trees based on the following:
- age
- condition assessments
- new developments
- storm damage
- customer requests
Street Tree Planting Program
City of Prospect receives many resident requests for planting of street trees. Council assesses each request on an individual basis and all planting is subject to space, underground services, suitability of location, tree species and budget. Tree planting occurs between June and October each year, which is the best time to establish a healthy root system.
Street Trees and Powerlines
Ensuring we have a safe and reliable supply of electricity is of paramount importance to SA Power Networks. To achieve this, vegetation needs to be trimmed around powerlines to minimise the risk of outages, avoid damage to lines and ensure public and community safety.
Pruning works are carried out by a qualified horticulture team to ensure pruning is kept to a minimum where possible. Further information is available from SA Power Networks on 13 12 61 or at www.sapowernetworks.com.au.
Tree Removals
As you would be aware, street trees are of significant value from both an environmental and an aesthetic perspective and provide enormous benefits to the community. As such, Council will consider all available options before it agrees to the removal of any of its street trees or other roadside vegetation.
To approve the removal of street trees one of the following criteria must be fulfilled:
- The tree is dead or dying
- The tree presents an unacceptable safety hazard, which cannot be alleviated by pruning
- The tree is shown to be causing, or threatening to cause, substantial damage to a building or structure of value
- The tree presents a serious traffic visibility problem which will be recurrent, and which cannot be alleviated by pruning
- The tree is planted in an unsuitable position
Tree Watering
Council has a Tree Watering Program to water newly planted trees for three consecutive years during the summer months and hot/dry periods of each year. Watering generally begins in October of each year, and continues through until March, depending on the hot/dry weather each year. Tree watering for three years is to ensure that the young trees have the best chance to establish themselves and a healthy deep-root system.
We encourage residents to support our watering program by providing street trees with a bucket or two of additional water during the drier months of the year on a regular basis. Keeping grass and other plants away from the planting holes will also further assist in the trees’ establishment.
If you would like any more information on trees within City of Prospect, please contact us on (08) 8269 5355 or email admin@prospect.sa.gov.au