When does street tree pruning become tree vandalism?

While Wollongong Council is doing what it can to increase tree planting, providing much-needed shade along our footpaths and roads to counter the warming climate, there are accusations that this is being undermined by over-zealous contractors taking tree pruning to a whole new level.

Greens Councillor Jess Whittaker is so hot under the collar, she'll move a Notice of Motion at next Monday's meeting of Council in an effort to pull those contractors into line after years of poor practice.

"The benefit of shady trees to our suburbs cannot be understated," Cr Whittaker said in her motion to Council. "Our city has committed to increasing the tree canopy across the Local Government Area from 17% to 35% by 2046."

Growing number of complaints

Cr Whittaker says while Council is doing the right thing by increasing the number of street trees, she's received complaints that contractors working for Endeavour Energy appear to be too heavy handed when they pick up a chainsaw.

Cr Whittaker said Council's Transport Strategy recognises street trees as "essential infrastructure for active transport (walking and cycling) due to their positive effect on amenity and reducing urban heat. And our Urban Heat Strategy also emphasises the importance of canopy cover in reducing the effect of extreme heat on our residents."

She lays the blame at the feet of Endeavour Energy, which employs contractors to keep growing trees clear of power lines.

Aggressive pruning practices

"There have been multiple observations of aggressive pruning practices by Endeavour Energy contractors, going well beyond the two-metre clearance for vegetation with four low-voltage cables on a 50-metre spread," Cr Whittaker said.

"This has led to poor outcomes for our street trees, increased urban heat and community dissatisfaction with tree management practice."

The problem, it seems, has been around for years. In 2017, eight years ago, Council's Urban Greening Strategy identified the "heavy pruning" by contractors working for utilities as putting the tree canopy in the city at risk. The Strategy said this approach to tree management also risked damaging root systems and limited a tree's ability to provide benefits.

Council's reputation is impacted

The backlash over the way the work is carried out is also impacting Council's reputation, according to Cr Whittaker.

"The perception among residents is often that Wollongong Council has undertaken the aggressive pruning... leading to damage to Wollongong Council's reputation."

In her Motion on Monday night, Cr Whittaker will ask that the General Manager, Greg Doyle, write to the NSW Minister for Climate Change, Energy, Heritage and Environment to raise Council's concerns and the non-compliance of contractors under the Electricity Supply Act 1995 (NSW) when pruning trees on verges.

Cr Whittaker also wants the GM to write directly to Endeavour Energy to raise ongoing dissatisfaction with tree pruning practices in Wollongong .

"Endeavour Energy should be formally notified that arborist contractors regularly prune well beyond the company's own guidelines, and this is inconsistent with other energy providers," Cr Whittaker said.