Tree maintenance pressures are mounting across Redland City as residents raise safety concerns and councillors warn current resources are struggling to keep pace with growth, rising costs and climate impacts.
Division 1 Councillor Wendy Boglary said the issue extended well beyond individual complaints, describing it as a citywide challenge tied to the protection of Redlands’ natural assets as well as community safety.
“Across the City, both mainland and our islands, challenges are increasing regarding our largest economic asset, our environment,” Cr Boglary said.
“With the expansion of development and rising costs, Council addresses these challenges according to the Civil Liability Act, Local Government Act, Redland City Council’s Management of Trees on Council Owned or Controlled Land Guideline and the obligations according to both Federal and State regulations.”
Her comments come amid ongoing concern from a Wellington Point resident who fears mature eucalyptus trees outside his Starkey Street home could fall during severe weather, forcing him and his partner to sleep in the back of their house when storms hit.
Cr Boglary said council teams were actively monitoring and managing street trees, including at Starkey Street, where trimming was already scheduled.
“Our teams have regular monitoring and trimming of street trees, with relating to this specific location, trimming is on the regular schedule and is to take place within the coming month,” she said.
“Council officers and I have met to discuss the issues with the resident who has also received advice from Council.”
She acknowledged the tension between preserving Redlands’ unique character and responding to residents’ safety concerns, saying long-term planning and resourcing were critical.
“Redlands is known for our unique environment and with the previously mentioned challenges, to address residents’ concerns and also preserving of our city’s character there has to be thought given to future processes and vision,” Cr Boglary said.
One solution, she said, was greater investment in environmental services as the city grows.
“One positive would be to sufficiently resource the department to keep in line with the growth of the City. This would allow for possible increases in maintenance of the higher priority trees,” she said.
Cr Boglary also urged broader discussion around environmental planning, including the use of feature-based offsets and a more strategic approach to urban greenery.
“I would also encourage discussion of feature-based offsets as this approach ensures that any offset activities directly target key local conservation priorities or environmental locations,” she said.
“To see a wholistic strategic approach to environmental corridors, street trees, parks plantings etc. would, hopefully ensure, find the needs of residents and wildlife would be addressed.”
She noted that many of the trees causing concern were not planted by council, but were legacy trees tied to older development approvals.
“Mature trees which are causing concerns are often original trees, not planted by Council, and are part of old development approvals which stated the trees must be kept,” she said.
“With strategic corridors, stepping stone trees, conservation areas, footpath trees and parks we could achieve liveable neighbourhoods, also considering heating impacts, wildlife connections and reduce impacts on residents.”
With budget discussions approaching, Cr Boglary said councillors should consider whether more funding could be directed to tree management and environmental works.
“In the upcoming budget deliberations this could be an area of funding that is considered by Councillors to begin addressing all the various concerns that arise in this area,” she said.
Redland City Council has previously stated it undertakes arborist assessments using international risk assessment standards and prioritises the retention of street trees unless a clear risk to safety or property is identified.
