Released 30/03/2023
The Legislative Assembly has passed the Urban Forest Bill 2022 - protecting Canberra’strees for a generation.
This new legislation will ensure our city’s trees are protected as Canberra continues to grow and creates a sound framework to reach our ambitious target of 30 per cent tree canopy cover or equivalent by 2045.
“The ACT Government recognises that as our city continues to grow it is necessary to increase tree planting, while preserving and protecting Canberra’s trees for future generations,” said Minister for Transport and City Services Chris Steel.
“This is about establishing the right protections and incentives to keep the trees that give Canberra its character as our city grows and develops.
“The first priority of this legislation is incentivising developers to keep existing trees. However, If a tree has to be given approval to be removed then the tree must be replaced, which was wasn’t previously required.
“This legislation will also save more trees from poor development practices with significant penalties for damaging trees before, during and after work takes place.
“Canberra’s trees are what makes our city one of the most liveable in the world - they cool our homes and streets, clean the air we breathe and provide important habitats for our wildlife.
“With our city growing faster than ever, we need to have the right protections in place to make sure we keep the Canberra we love as we grow.”
The legislation will come into effect on 1 January 2024 allowing time for the Government to work with the community and industry to raise awareness of what is changing under the new legislation and how it affects residents and businesses as well as building a new IT system to implement the reform.
This revised commencement date also responds to feedback on the Bill from the Inquiry Report into the Urban Forest Bill 2022 by the Standing Committee on Planning, Transport and City Services.
The Urban Forest Bill 2022 was developed and refined from extensive community and stakeholder consultation and inquiry processes involving over 80 submissions.
The key changes introduced by this Bill include:
- introducing new requirements to ensure when trees are approved for removal, they are replaced through new planting. Where new planting is not possible, a financial contribution will be required which will go towards funding the planting of more trees.
- introduces a tree bond system to ensure trees are not damaged during construction work as our city continues to grow.
- expanding the ACT Tree Register which celebrates and protects our most significant trees. Trees with Aboriginal cultural heritage will be automatically nominated for assessment, and the public will be able to nominate trees for their ecological significance, in addition to their landscape, aesthetic, cultural, and scientific value; and
- improving the compliance provisions including introduction of penalties for people caught damaging a tree or breaching a tree protection plan or direction.
To view the Urban Forest Bill 2022 visit Urban Forest Bill 2022 | Bills (act.gov.au)
- Statement ends -
Chris Steel, MLA | Media Releases