Parliament of South Australia
Environment, Resources and Development Committee
Friday 2 December 2022
A Parliamentary inquiry has been launched to find practical and innovative ways to protect and grow Adelaide’s declining urban tree canopy.
Each year Adelaide loses 75 000 trees, with the canopy reduction most severe in Adelaide’s inner suburbs.
As the climate changes, it’s proving more important to ensure new plantings survive, especially within urban infill developments.
The Parliament’s Environment, Resources and Development Committee (ERDC) is now calling for public submissions to the inquiry, which will:
investigate best practice and innovative measures to support selection and maintenance of site-appropriate tree species in the Adelaide metropolitan area, with a focus on trees for urban infill developments
examine legislative and regulatory options to improve the resilience and longevity of trees comprising the urban forest.
After hearing evidence from the public, experts and interest groups, the ERDC will make recommendations to Government.
Submissions can be sent to erdc.assembly@parliament.sa.gov.au or posted to GPO Box 572 ADELAIDE SA 5000 by Friday 24 February 2023. Further details can be found at www.parliament.sa.gov.au/en/Committees/Committees-Detail
Quotes from Committee Chair Jayne Stinson MP
We’re losing our precious tree canopy in metro Adelaide at a rapid rate. Urgent action is needed.
Adelaide is losing about 75 000 trees a year and they’re not being sufficiently replaced.
This inquiry is about finding practical measures to retain and grow tree canopy, especially for new infill development. We also want the right trees planted so they survive a changing climate.
We’re also interested in strengthening existing laws to provide better protections to trees.
There are lots of passionate South Australians with great ideas about how to protect and grow our trees. We want to hear from them.
For interviews contact ERDC Chair Jayne Stinson on 0458 547 512