Sibanengi Dube
Brimbank council has called upon the Municipality Association of Victoria (MAV) to adopt a more nuanced approach to curb fire outbreaks in urban areas than cutting down trees nearer to power lines.
The call is contained in a motion which the council submitted for consideration at the MAV conference scheduled for October 12.
The council is against the current fire control measures by Electric Line Clearance Consultative Committee of pruning down trees closer to power lines in both urban and rural areas without factoring the needed cooling function of plants in towns.
“Urban and rural trees are subject to the same guidelines but a more nuanced approach is required for urban trees where fires are rarely started by trees. Healthy, well-formed trees are required across metropolitan Melbourne to mitigate the impacts of heatwaves, to support Human Thermal Comfort and the ongoing liveability of Melbourne,” reads part of the council motion.
The council maintained that pruning down trees was making Melbourne hotter and raising the demand for air-condition. Advocating for the urban tree canopy of 30 per cent across Melbourne, Brimbank councillors urged other 78 municipalities to consider the effects of climate change as well.
“Climate change impacts need to be considered in determining the functions and values of urban trees. The cost for Councils to adhere to current guidelines has significantly increased recently as the Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) has become very strict on what is allowed,” reads part of the motion.
Continues the motion: “It is understood that the ESV is less inclined to consider environmental issues and the impact of climate change on the urban environment than other State regulators and other states have a more balanced approach than Victoria.”
