Developers and property owners in Brisbane could potentially face large fines for removing trees without authorisation, according to a spokesperson from the Brisbane City Council.
“A person must not interfere with, or remove protected vegetation, unless it is strictly in accordance with a permit issued by [the] Council,” the spokesperson said. The ruling is in line with the Council’s aim to increase tree shade along residential footpaths in the city from 35% to 50%.
As a result, many property developers are now sub-contracting project arborists to help them protect trees on-site and avoid the Council’s fines. These arborists, in turn, use innovative technology to help retain trees on development sites.
“Increasingly, we are being called on to help property developers deal with trees that the Council want protected as part of the construction project,” said Peter Mumford, senior arborist with Arbor Operations. “Unfortunately even with special care, the health of trees can be impacted during construction work because there’s not enough water available in the soil to keep them alive.”
New technology enables arborists to measure the exact amount of water available within the soil, which trees will need to sustain their health during the development phase of building.
Called Water Scout Sensors, this high-tech irrigation system uses mathematical parameters to measure, monitor, and log moisture levels deep underground, where the root structures of trees are found.
“We’ve been using high-tech systems as part of a deep watering regime to measure the exact amount of water trees require,” Mumford said. “This kind of technology is also fantastic [because it allows] the quick establishment of newly-planted young trees in new developments, ensuring their root systems are well-irrigated for optimal growth.”
“Developers and architects are now realising that if they design smarter by incorporating existing trees into their designs, we can enjoy the best of both worlds. This new approach will certainly help reach that objective,” Mumford said.
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