Recommendations
March 30th, 2009It is recommended that the following policy be adopted by Committee to manage tree care and sustain vitality in the tree scape of the eThekwini Municipality.
4. BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES / POLICY
The following practices for the maintenance of trees will protect them from death and irreversible damage caused by improper or inadequate tree maintenance.
Practices included, but not limited are :
1. Planting practices
2. Tree pruning
3. Tree removal
4. Species selection
5. Tree maintenance
5. PLANTING PRACTICES
In order to maintain the eThekwini Municipality’s green and verdant nature, street trees must be planted wherever possible, because the impact this has on the urban street scape is immeasurable and trees have a multitude of purposes, subject the consideration of other factors; such as infra structural services, safety, traffic considerations and the remedy or mitigation of adverse impacts.
5.1 Planting in streets must have the written approval of the eThekwini Municipality, Parks Department.
5.2 Council may plant trees on request, to replace street trees that need to be removed, or as part of an organised project or precinct planting.
5.3 Plans for street tree planting will take into account, but are not limited to:
* shading, loss of views, root damage to pavements and adjacent properties, overhanging branches and traffic safety;
* the width of the verge at the proposed location;
* the effects trees will have on underground and overhead services;
* landscape considerations; and
* neighbours living immediately adjacent to proposed street tree planting sites and people who are significantly affected by new street trees will be consulted as part of the planning process for street tree planting.
5.4 Only species listed in the appendices to the Street Tree Planting Policy will be planted by the eThekwini Municipality.
5.5 Street trees will only be planted where :
* pedestrian and driver sight lines are not unduly obscured; and
* Underground services and overhead services are unlikely to be unduly affected.
6. STANDARDS FOR PLANTING
· One metre back from face of curb
· One and a half metres from underground services
· Three metres from driveways
· Ten metres from streetlights
· Fifteen metres from intersections