On 31 March, Hornsby Shire Council celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Tree Preservation Order – a motion put forward in 1960 by then Councillor Max Ruddock, the father of the current Member for Berowra, Phillip Ruddock.
“We often call Hornsby Shire ‘The Bushland Shire’, as more than 70 per cent of the area is covered in trees,” said Mayor Nick Berman.
“It’s important for us to consider and acknowledge the role of our past leaders in making efforts to conserve the trees and leafy character of our region.”
Max Ruddock’s motion prohibited the ringbarking, cutting down, topping, lopping or wilful destruction of any tree, except with written consent.
The action was designed to not only preserve trees, but to stop the practice of bulldozing all timber from subdivisions and moving topsoil – a practice that interfered with natural drainage patterns and led to soil erosion.
“Council has a very strong record with tree protection, which residents and visitors enjoy every time they travel throughout the Shire,” Mayor Berman said.
Trees can be removed or pruned in certain circumstances, such as if a tree presents a safety risk due to disease, with prior permission from Council.
Hornsby Shire has some of Sydney’s oldest and tallest trees, including the mighty Sydney blue gum, which grows to heights of up to 70 metres.
Council also has a number of programs to conserve and improve the bushland of the region, including one of Sydney’s largest volunteer Bushcare programs, involving more than 850 volunteers working on 130 sites.
The bushland is also being restored through regular native plant giveaways for ratepayers and an ongoing street tree planting program.
Changes to State legislation mean that, while trees and other native vegetation will still be protected, Council’s Tree Preservation Order is likely to be replaced by a Vegetation Development Control Plan soon.
Council will be working on a draft that will be released for public consultation later in 2010.
