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Brighton East’s Urban Forest

In Brighton East, you’ll find a distinctive urban forest with a wide variety of native, exotic and indigenous trees and plants.

Through the Brighton East precinct plan, we’re aiming to embrace the suburb’s diversity of tree and plant species and create an urban forest for the community to enjoy – highlighting the beauty of the extensive park network and exquisite tree-lined streetscapes.

Within the precinct plan we’ve identified:

    • Ideal locations for priority planting
    • plant species to enhance biodiversity and retain local character
    • ways to support Brighton East residents to green their own spaces.

    Read the Brighton East Precinct Plan


    There are several situations where a permit may be required to remove a tree:

    1. in a location subject to planning restrictions or an overlay.
    2. of particular size, planting condition or significance and a qualified arborist is not doing the work.

    Situation 1: Planning restrictions

    While there are currently no Vegetation Protection Overlays or Significant Landscape Overlays in Brighton East, tree removal and replanting may require further assessment through the panning application approval process.

    For larger developments or where redevelopment proposals are being assessed and require planning approval, Council officers can also request a landscaping plan which should be prepared to take into consideration the Bayside Landscaping Guidelines.

    Trees or vegetation may be protected by a planning permit if you live in, or own, a flat, unit, apartment, dual occupancy, or if the property is under 500m2. To find out whether trees or vegetation on your property is protected by a heritage overlay or a significant landscape overlay, view the planning map.

    Situation 2: Local Law

    A Local Law permit is required if the tree to be removed:

    • has a single or combined trunk circumference greater than 155cm measured at 1m above ground level. If the tree has several trunks, the four largest trunk circumferences should be added together; or
    • is planted in accordance with the replacement planting condition of a Local Law permit; or
    • is listed on our Significant Tree Register.

    • Greening Brighton East

      Increasing tree canopy cover to reach 30% and vegetation cover to reach 30% across Brighton East by 2040.

    • Biodiverse suburb

      Create a diverse and healthy urban forest that reinforces greater outcomes for biodiversity.

    • Improve monitoring and maintain

      Improve the ability to monitor and track along with maintaining our existing canopy cover and avoid further decline.

    • Encourage residents and private owners

      Learn together, educate each other, encourage and celebrate greater care and protection.

    Brighton East

    Legend

    • Commercial areas

      Across Brighton East there are various parts of the suburb that are zoned for commercial use.

      • East Brighton Shopping Centre
      • Hawthorn Rd Shopping Centre
      • Thomas St and Egan St Centre
      • Nepean Hwy and Milroy St Centre
      • Nepean Hwy and Centre Rd Centre

      The character of these commercial centres can be improved by increasing tree vegetation cover.


    • Parks and reserves

      Council has identified opportunities through our Park Improvement and Habitat Linkage Plan to provide increased understorey within and surrounding several of our parks and reserves within Bayside. The following areas will be investigated:

      • Landcox Park to Hurlingham Park via Sunnyside Ave/ Union Ave/ Francis St
      • Landcox Park to Little Reserve via Union St / Elster Creek
      • Brighton Public Golf Course to Dendy Park via Dendy St
      • Studley Rd via South Rd to Bourneville Ave.
    • Activity centre zone

      The character and appearance of Activity Centres can be improved by increasing tree and vegetation cover, where appropriate. Creating more appealing centres will attract a greater number of visitors to local activity areas.

    • Educational land

      Council will work with other State government and non-State government Schools to increase tree and vegetation cover on educational land, and run educational programs to increase awareness around vegetation planting and protection. Schools within Brighton East include:

      • Gardenvale Primary School
      • Melbourne Montessori School
      • St Finbar’s Parish Primary School
      • Brighton Secondary College
      • St Leonard’s College
      • Halieybury College.

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    Contact us

    yoursay@bayside.vic.gov.au

    (03) 9599 4444

    www.bayside.vic.gov.au

    Bayside City Council, 76 Royal Avenue

    PO Box 27, Sandringham VIC 3191

    For general enquiries to Bayside Council

    bayside.vic.gov.au/contact-us

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