Trees and vegetation

Street and reserve trees in the urban environment are valuable Council and community assets and an important part of the landscape and natural environment. In the long term, they often create a very real ‘sense of place’ and dramatically enhance the urban environment.

Ballina takes great pride in its streetscapes, reserves and bushlands providing attractive landscapes and a diverse range of open spaces areas for the enjoyment of all residents and visitors.

Environmental benefits 

• A single mature tree can absorb up to 21kg of carbon dioxide each year 
• Trees reduce energy consumption by shading pavement, cars and buildings
• Trees remove gaseous pollutants by absorbing them through the leaf surface 
• Tree canopies, trunks and root structures filter pollution out of stormwater and reduce the amount of pollution that is washed into drains and waterways
• Trees reduce runoff, which reduces erosion, flooding and recharges water tables
• Trees provide habitat and food sources for animals and contribute to biodiversity conservation. 

Economic benefits

• Tree lined streets are shown to boost property values
• Shoppers are more likely to spend more at stores located along tree-lined streets as they stay longer
• Trees can also save money by shading houses, reducing the need for air conditioning thereby reducing energy bills
• Fruit trees play a role in urban agriculture helping families save money and increasing access to nutritious foods.

Social and psychological benefits

• Trees help residents interact with nature
• Playing amongst trees helps children develop social skills and cognitive abilities
• Trees give residents a greater sense of well-being and satisfaction 
• Trees create a feeling of relaxation and help make residents feel safer
• Research has shown that visual beauty and sensual enhancement of trees elevates people’s moods and improves their mental and physical health
• Workers and students are shown to be more productive when their environments have views of trees
• Street tree canopies contrast with the built environment and can shade and protect pedestrians from winter rain, absorb dust and wind, calm traffic and diminish noise, screen unwanted views, and reduce glare
• Trees provide seasonal interest and natural beauty through foliage, including leaf patterns, flowers, bark, fruit and canopy. 

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Street tree request

The best time to plant a tree was 50 years ago... the second-best time is now!

Want to live in a leafy suburb? You can help Council make your street a more beautiful, shadier, cleaner place by requesting a street tree to be planted in front of your property. Each year Council staff plant new and replacement street trees.

Trees are either grown at Council's nursery or sourced from quality nurseries with tree-planting sites thoroughly prepared. This ensures trees have the best possible start to a long life.

Request a Street Tree

Can I plant my own street tree?

Street tree planting, if carried out by residents without consultation with Council, however well meant, may unintentionally create problems with regard to public safety. Trees planted without Council approval can impact to sight lines for drivers and pedestrians, create inconsistency of streetscape and possibly damage private or public property, such as essential services like water, sewer, stormwater and electricity. Any trees planted on the nature strip can also become potential long-term problems.

Council tries to accommodate all requests for tree planting and encourages residents to help with nurturing any newly planted tree.

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Urban tree works - pruning or removal

Public trees are assets that can require professional maintenance. Council will undertake tree and vegetation pruning to improve tree health, habit and provide nominal clearances for pathways, roads, buildings and essential infrastructure. 

The public are not permitted to prune or remove trees or vegetation on Council managed lands including footpaths and reserves without Council consent. 

To apply for approval for tree or vegetation pruning or removal on public land please complete and submit the Tree Works on Public Land Application.

Tree Works on Public Land Application

Council’s Urban Vegetation of Public Land policy (0.1mb pdf) identifies the acceptable and unacceptable reasons for pruning or removal of trees on public land.