Our trees need protecting

How we are trying to protect trees
How people can help
Why Monash’s tree canopy is important

Our tree canopy matters. Trees cool our neighbourhoods, clean our air, make our streets walkable and protect Monash’s cherished garden character.

We know trees are important to Monash residents, and we need your help to protect them.

How we are trying to protect trees

The wholesale removal of trees and gardens from properties, referred to as ‘moonscaping’, and their replacement with paving and other hard surfaces is frustrating to many people who live in Monash, and we are trying to stop it.

In 2014 the Victorian Government’s key planning document, Plan Melbourne, also recognised this issue and promised State action to reduce tree loss and cool and green our suburbs.

For the last five years Council has been asking the Minister for Planning and the Victorian Government to give us planning controls to protect and improve the landscape and tree canopy of Monash.

In July 2019 we applied for temporary protection to stop uncontrolled removal of tree canopy, this was refused by the then Minister for Planning.

In early 2021, we submitted another amendment to the Minister for Planning for tree protections. This was also refused by the Minister for Planning, who advised the government was working on state-wide tree protections promised in Plan Melbourne in 2014.

Later in 2021, we lodged another application to stop the removal of our tree canopy until the Minister introduced the promised state-wide tree protections. Council officers helped write the State Cooling and Greening controls planned for release in December 2022. The state-wide tree protections did not happen, and we have heard nothing since late August 2023.

In January earlier this year (2024), the Monash Mayor and staff met with the Minister for Planning to ask for our controls or their long promised state-wide controls, but we still have not had a response.

During this time, our tree canopy continues to be removed without replanting, yet in 2019 our neighbour the City of Whitehorse was granted the same protections as the nearby City of Maroondah in having municipality wide tree protections. In fact, the Minister has just extended Whitehorse Council’s protections for a further six months until December 2024.

The Victorian Government won’t explain why neighbourhoods and trees in Whitehorse and Maroondah deserve planning protection, but ours do not.

How you can help

We’re asking our ratepayers to return the postcard received in their rates pack to let the Minister for Planning know you support the campaign.

Alternatively, you can send an email to the Minister at sonya.kilkenny@parliament.vic.gov.au with the below suggested wording.

Dear Minister

I’m writing to you as a Monash resident in support of Monash Council efforts over the last five years to secure greater protections for Monash’s tree canopy.

Our tree canopy matters. Trees cool our neighbourhoods, clean our air, make our streets walkable and protect Monash’s cherished garden character.

As a Monash resident, I support Council's efforts to secure protections for our tree canopy.

As a matter of urgency, please:

Approve Council’s request for interim tree removal controls across Monash through the Significant Landscape Overlay (Amendment C165); and

Implement the proposed state-wide tree removal controls.

We need the government to act to protect our trees. This matters to me. Our tree canopy can't wait another five years. You must act now on your promised policy!

Kind regards

(your name)

Why Monash’s tree canopy is important

Trees help to:

Intercept air pollution and improve air quality.
Provide shade and cooling our local environment, helping to reduce energy use during the warmer months.
Support our mental health.
Provide habitat for flora and fauna.
Reduce carbon emissions.
Contribute to the cherished garden character of Monash.
Provide economic benefits to residents through increased property prices.