The new standard, AS 4970-2009, provides tree management guidelines for the proper care and protection of trees retained and integrated into construction projects. It includes guidance on how to decide which trees should be retained and how to protect those trees during construction.
Guidelines on how to calculate the tree and crown area requiring protection and isolation from construction activities, and the use of tree protection measures such as barriers and protectors are also covered, according to John Tucker, CEO of Standards Australia.
He said that key to the Australian Standard was the requirement that procedures must be in place to protect trees at every stage of the development process, including from the earliest planning of an outdoor event, or the initial design of a new development.
“Trees provide valuable environmental and social benefits to our urban environments. Inadequate development design, planning and supervision can have drastic impacts on the long-term survival and protection of trees well after construction is completed,” he said.
With no regulations currently governing tree management during development, the voluntary Australian Standard was attracting interest from local councils in Victoria and New South Wales, looking to introduce mandatory guidelines. City of Sydney Council had already applied guidelines stipulated by the Australian Standard to a development project to upgrade the Victoria Park playground in inner-city Camperdown.
Requirements in the Standard include conducting a detailed topographical site survey; undertaking a preliminary tree assessment and arboricultural report; the restriction of activities in tree protection zones; the erection of protective fencing; the use of approved signs; mulching, watering and weed removal to maintain the tree protection zone, and regular monitoring.
