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Feedback dates


Project background

Council is preparing a policy to guide a balanced approach to Urban Forest management across the Inner West Local Government Area.

Our community values the natural environment and the draft Urban Forest Policy is another step forward in enhancing our tree canopy for generations to come. The draft Policy provides the framework for delivering a sustainable and intergenerational Urban Forest.

At its meeting on 18 February 2025, Council resolved to put the draft Urban Forest Policy on public exhibition for 28 days and seek community feedback. This policy will supersede all previous Leichhardt, Marrickville and Ashfield tree policies.

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.

Get involved!

Complete the Survey

Provide your feedback on whether the Policy reflects your priorities for managing the Urban Forest across the Inner West!

This survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete

You can also provide feedback by:

  • Completing the form below
  • Emailing to Trees@innerwest.nsw.gov.au
  • Mailing to Inner West Council, Po Box 14, Petersham NSW 2049, c/o Lindsay Field
  • Calling us on 0410 723 773

To complete the submissions form please create an account to join, or login to an existing account. The Your Say Inner West account is separate from other Council accounts.

Other ways to provide feedback:

  • Call a FREE Interpreter or the National Relay Service, Monday to Friday between 9am-4pm and provide our phone number 0410 723 773
    • Free Interpreter call TIS National on 131 450
    • Voice relay call 1300 555 727
    • TTY call 133 677
    • SMS relay call 0423 677 767

Last day to provide feedback is 4 April 2025.

Come say hello at a Pop-up

Have a chat with us at the following locations:

  • Ashfield Aquatic Centre

    160 Elizabeth St, Ashfield

    Friday, 14 March, 2:00-4:00pm

  • PRIDE Square, Newtown

    1A Bedford St, Newtown

    Tuesday 18 March, 2:00-4:00pm

  • Leichhardt Park

    Maliyawul St, Lilyfield

    Thursday, 20 March, 10:00-12:00pm

  • Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre

    Black St, Marrickville

    Saturday, 29 March, 10:00am-12pm

  • Ann Cashman Reserve, Balmain

    Elliott St, Balmain

    Wednesday, 2 April, 10:00am-12pm


What will happen next?

The feedback we receive will be used alongside desktop best practice and technical research to help finalise the Inner West Urban Forest Policy, which will be presented for Council endorsement in coming months. Once adopted the Policy, and the insights heard from the community during this consultation, will be utilised to develop an Urban Forest Strategic Action Plan, that will provide a guide and process to achieving the Policy outcomes.