Veteran trees
Large mature and prominent public trees are described as veterans because they have survived for many decades as the city around them has changed.
Veteran trees are a living part of the urban landscape. They provide numerous, valuable benefits, but they age, they die and sometimes they pose a public risk.
Veteran trees are usually only removed if:
- They have been scientifically tested and been found to be failing
- Other options for managing the aging trees have been explored and evaluated
- There are economic or legal liability issues.
Council’s approach to good tree management includes:
- Forward Planning – strategies for the future
- Early intervention for sick or problem trees
- Better long-term care
- Increased planting programs.
Steps to manage our new trees effectively include:
- ‘Best practice’ selection and maintenance methods
- Quality control on purchasing trees
- Formative pruning of newly planted trees (not waiting until they are aging and then pruning)
- Avoiding tree damage in development and infrastructure maintenance – protecting trees on worksites
- Assessment and mitigation of impacts of new development on trees
- The management of soil compaction in parks and road medians.
Contact us
City Administration Centre
282 King Street
Newcastle NSW 2300
Tel: 02 4974 2000
