Greater Shepparton City Council is set to remove and replace 33 fast growing street trees under electrical assets in high bushfire rated areas, due to changes in Energy Safe Victoria requirements.
Council representatives have made contact with residents who will be impacted by removal of trees on their nature strip and will commence removals from Monday 5 September, 2022.
Council is now obligated to maintain a minimum one and a half meter vegetation clearance around electrical assets in high bushfire rated areas all year round.
Council’s Director Infrastructure, Gary Randhawa said there is the option to heavily prune fast growing species in high bushfire rated areas throughout the year, however this would result in loss of amenity and reduce the trees useful life expectancy.
“Heavy pruning would often result in loss of the tree canopy, as the upper branches of the tree would need to be removed to meet clearance requirements,” he said.
“Removing and replacing these trees with more appropriate, slow growing species will provide summer shade and visual appeal to our urban areas, as well as improving safety and eliminating ongoing pruning costs.”
