The Urban Forest is the collection of trees and large shrubs located within Council managed streets, parks, facilities, and all privately owned or managed land. By labelling it as a collective “urban forest” and considering the asset as a network, we can better respond to how these trees, shrubs and spaced collectively contribute to better outcomes for both our environment and the liveability of our residents, businesses, and visitors.

This policy will provide a formal and clear urban forest vision and commitment from Council, and will directly inform a Strategic Action Plan that will detail how we effectively and efficiently achieve this outcome. The Purpose of this project is to:

a) define the priorities and guidelines for Council to manage and maximise the Inner West’s urban forest

b) develop a sustainable and resilient tree population, maximising benefits, whilst reducing negative impacts upon liveability in the LGA

c) establish an integrated approach to tree management that identified synergies in the complex relationship between ecological benefits and increased liveability

d) commit to the retention and protection of suitable trees, practical management of unsuitable or hazardous trees, and undertake renewal tree planting.

The Policy will clearly detail our approach to managing trees and shrubs in the urban environment on both private and public land. It will be a considered approach that balances ecological outcomes and liveability for our residents.

The Strategic Action Plan (to be prepared in response to the adopted Policy) will designate what documents, programs, and actions we will deliver to have a transparent and consistent process to achieve the Urban Forest Policy goals. These goals include: maximising tree population, maximising canopy cover, and reducing negative interaction and risk of trees on urban environments.

The NSW Government has provided Council with funding to undertake this project, through the Greening Our City grants program.