Advocating for trees
Council has been regularly advocating for changes to state government tree protection legislation, particularly throughout the state government’s recent planning reforms and review.
Action 1.7 of the Climate Change Response Plan states that council will continue to advocate on this issue.
A number of council representations have been made over the last few years to the state government with a strong focus on the need for improved tree preservation and protection within the planning legislation:
18 February 2020 – submission on the Code recommending that increased greening opportunities and tree canopy targets should be encouraged. This submission also noted our concerns regarding the weakening of the protection of trees and the increasing need to strengthen policy.
3 November 2020 – a motion of notice to co-sign a letter to the Minister, via the Greater Adelaide Region of Councils (GAROC), urging the minister to review the regulations that govern the protection of tree canopy and regulated and significant trees to stop the loss of tree canopy and mature trees across our suburbs.
8 December 2020 – second submission to the State Planning Commission on the Code where we reiterated our concerns surrounding the weakening of planning policy for the removal of trees, and the need for tree regulations and policy to be strengthened.
4 May 2021 – submission to Green Adelaide on the draft Green Adelaide and Hills and Fleurieu Regional Landscape Plan provided discussion and recommendations that sought to strengthen tree protection.
2 November 2021 – Tree Protection Advocacy report in response to the Council resolution on 16 March 2021 recommending we continue to advocate to the State Government for legislative change for improved tree protection and greater tree policy within the Code.
8 November 2022- submission to the expert panel on the independent review of the planning system implementation.
21 February 2023 - submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Urban Forest.
7 November 2023 - submission to the Greater Adelaide Regional Plan (GARP) Discussion Paper highlighting the disconnect between planning policy and implementation outcomes to date and the need for action, measures and responsibility.
The GARP was released in March 2025, the Plan’s target aims to achieve 30% tree canopy cover across metropolitan Adelaide by 2055.
Significant reforms to the regime for the protection of regulated and significant trees under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (Act) and the Planning, Development and Infrastructure (General) Regulations 2017 (General Regulations) came into effect on 16 May 2024. While we are pleased with the improved measures made but continue to advocate for more.
Council and the community also strongly advocated for sustainable greening and canopy outcomes as part of the Sustainable Aldinga development which were successful, and we intend to continue this advocacy for all new developments.