Background Information

Council has developed a dedicated Urban Tree Management Strategy alongside an updated Urban Tree Management Plan and Urban Tree Policy, consolidating multiple past documents into a single long-term framework.

With the existing 2018 Urban Tree Policy due for review last year, Council chose to develop a more comprehensive and strategic approach to tree management across the Shire. As a result a more sustainable framework has been developed, with a focus on enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of tree management delivery, with a strong emphasis on achieving customer-centric outcomes.

Council’s Urban Tree Management Strategy has been developed to help effectively manage trees on both public and private land across the Shire. Trees are a key element of our urban forest, and the Strategy covers the planning, planting, protection, care, and renewal of trees to support our goal of creating a greener, cooler, healthier, and more inclusive community for everyone to enjoy.

The urban tree canopy is a vital part of our public infrastructure, helping to combat climate change and reduce urban heat. It also enhances the visual appeal of neighbourhoods, improves the built environment, and contributes to a better quality of life for residents, workers, and visitors.

In line with the Council’s dedication to expanding tree canopy cover and improving tree management, this Strategy outlines a clear vision, strategic goals, and actions to guide the future of tree care in our area.

The Urban Tree Management Plan serves as a key supporting document for the Urban Tree Strategy, offering clear guidelines for selecting tree species that align with local climate, soil conditions, and biodiversity objectives. It emphasises the importance of species diversity to prevent disease and enhance resilience to climate change.

Additionally, the plan provides technical specifications for the planting and management of trees across the Shire, ensuring sustainable growth and long-term health.

The Urban Tree Policy is essential to provide a clear, consistent, and enforceable framework for decision-making, ensuring that tree management practices are applied uniformly across both public and private land.

Unlike a strategy, which outlines long-term goals and guiding principles, the policy consolidates all tree-related requirements into one document, offering practical direction and accountability for implementation across the Shire.

Council's suite of Urban Tree Management documents will be underpinned by 5 core principles:

  • Protect

    Safeguarding existing trees and canopy cover through policies and enforcement

  • Grow

    Expanding and enhancing our urban forest to improve our environment and our community

  • Manage

    Implementing best practices for tree maintenance, risk management, and long-term sustainability

  • Monitor

    Tracking tree health, canopy coverage and environmental impacts to inform decision making

  • Engage

    Encouraging community participation and awareness in urban tree management initiatives

Current Activities

Council is currently strengthening its commitment to tree protection through a range of initiatives focused on preserving, maintaining, and enhancing the urban tree canopy. These are further detailed below:

  • The Significant Tree Register for Public Trees

    Aligned with the Strategy, Council will revitalise its Significant Tree Register for Public Trees - enhancing protections for trees of historical, cultural, or ecological significance that contribute to the Shire’s identity, heritage, and liveability.

    Learn more 

  • Website Revision

    The development of accessible, information-rich webpages that detail all types of tree applications, exemptions, and management information. This will clear guidelines for applications and streamline the tree management approach for residents.

Information Sessions

Council staff will be hosting two pop-up sessions to provide information during the public exhibition period at the following community markets:

  • Colo Vale Markets - Saturday 5 July
  • Bundanoon Makers Markets - Sunday 20 July

Viewing the Documents & Providing Feedback

The draft Urban Tree Management Strategy, Urban Tree Management Plan and Urban Tree Policy are on public exhibition from Monday 23 June until Monday 21 July 2025. These may be viewed:

  1. In the electronic Document Library on this page
  2. At Council’s Customer Service Counter, Civic Centre, 68 Elizabeth Street, Moss Vale NSW 2577, between 8.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday
  3. Council Libraries

Feedback can be provided through:

  1. Completing an Online Submission Form (below)
  2. Emailing it directly to mail@wsc.nsw.gov.au with the subject title draft Urban Tree Management
  3. Hand writing your submission and delivering it to Council's Civic Centre located at 68 Elizabeth Street, Moss Vale NSW 2577
  4. Posting your submission to Wingecarribee Shire Council, PO Box 141, Moss Vale NSW 2577

Only written submissions will be considered and these must be received by Council before Monday 21 July 2025. Please note that any submissions received may be included in the final report to Council.

Your feedback is a way for you to share your thoughts and ideas on a particular issue or project. The goal is to make sure your voice and the community’s voices are heard and considered. It helps provide valuable insights, identify potential issues and suggest improvements. This way, decisions can be more inclusive, transparent and effective, reflecting what you and the community really needs and wants.

Responses to engagement projects are compiled and considered. When projects are reported to Council to make a decision a summary of community feedback will be included. Updates on projects will be included in these pages and elsewhere on Council's website.

Sometimes it takes some months to provide feedback to the community and to make a decision as further investigation is often needed. We are listening and we do take your suggestions on board!