For years now, we have queried the usefulness, validity, and objectives of the various consultation processes adopted by our council. Of particular concern, surveys have always been at the top of our list. Not only are they designed to create the illusion of genuine consultation, but they are also designed to produce so called results that either support already made decisions, or are so vague and meaningless that the answers can be manipulated any way wished.

The latest example of this sham comes in the form of the Community Voice survey on Growing Glen Eira’s urban forest. Here is one of the questions presented in this survey.

Increasing tree canopy on private property

Trees and vegetation on private land are an important part of Glen Eira’s urban forest. As Glen Eira grows, maintaining and increasing tree canopy requires action on both public and private land.

We’d like to understand what residents are already doing, what more they would like to do, and any opportunities or barriers they experience.

Which of the following apply to you?  Select all that apply

 I have planted one or more trees where I live

I plant or maintain shrubs, garden beds or other vegetation where I live

I have created habitat for wildlife where I live

I have reduced hard surfaces and increased garden areas where I live

I grow plants in a courtyard, balcony or other small space

I would like to do more to increase trees and greenery where I live

None of the above

Other (please specify)

COMMENTS

The stated title of this survey is ‘growing the urban forest’. Tree canopy coverage is a crucial element of any urban forest and has been admitted so by council – especially when the reason for the drastic decline in our tree canopy is the continued moonscaping of private land. This was the reasoning behind the introduction of council’s recent Canopy Tree Protection Local Law.

Thus, instead of a question that looks at the wider implications of  how we can ‘increase our tree canopy’ (ie the heading for this question) the focus is exclusively on ‘where I live’. Asking residents whether or not they have planted a tree on their property, or reduced hard surfaces etc. tells us nothing about –

  1. How many new trees residents may have planted compared to how many have been lost
  2. Nor does it tell us anything about what has been happening throughout the municipality and how many trees have been lost to development
  3. Even the last question about the desire to ‘increase trees and greenery where I live’ is meaningless without providing respondents with options that are available. Furthermore it again focuses on the individual’s property rather than the wider community. There is not a single word that explores what council can do to stem continued canopy loss.

The point of all the above is that residents alone are powerless to stop development and subsequent moonscaping. That is the role of councils and appropriate legislation, enforcement and vigilant monitoring.

Council is now in the throes of ‘refreshing’ the Urban Forest Strategy. They have already admitted that they have no idea how many canopy trees have been lost on private land. Nor have they told us how many trees have been lost on public land. For years now, all we have been told is that council plants anything between 1000 and 2000 trees per annum. No mention of how many are replacement. We have no idea whether our tree canopy is in fact anywhere near the target of 22% by 2040, or whether it has in fact declined. Even the government’s recently announced target of 30% coverage by 2050 seems a million miles away for Glen Eira.

Other councils (ie Whitehorse) have put their money where their mouth is by using the latest technology (IE LIDAR) to accurately evaluate their tree canopy. They have also introduced amendments that go into the planning scheme and hence have more power to stop canopy tree loss on development sites. In Glen Eira, the argument has always been it takes too long, costs too much, and we’re happy with our Local Law alone.

If the current ‘refresh’ of the Urban Forest Strategy is to be a genuine attempt to introduce measures and data that will help increase our tree canopy  and maintain sustainability in the municipality, then the questions set in the current survey simply do not do the job. They are nothing more that ‘feel good’ nonsense that tells us nothing and certainly does not point to any potential future plan of action.