Environmental Services
Trees Protected by Tree Preservation
Local Laws in the Pine Rivers Shire
hat are Tree Preservation Local Laws?
Pine Rivers Shire has many beautiful natural areas
that support a great variety of native plants and
animals. We are very fortunate because we still have
opportunities to retain the Australian character of our
landscapes, which sadly, in many other places, has
been lost. Development and urbanisation should not
be allowed to proceed in ways that destroy our
natural ecosystems.
To help conserve the natural vegetation and fauna of
the Shire, Council has passed a Tree Preservation
local law. This local law (formerly a by-law) protects
significant specimens, groups and species of trees,
shrubs and other plants. Plants protected by this local
law are recorded either in the Tree Preservation
Register or the Catalogue of Tree Preservation Areas,
Riverine Tree Preservation Areas and Locality Tree
Preservation Areas. The Register and Catalogue, may
be viewed at Council.
Why Do We Need Tree Preservation Local
Laws?
ƒ Without tree preservation laws for the Shire,
natural bushland may to be cleared without regard
to the loss of a significant number of our native
plant and animal species.
ƒ The natural beauty and Australian character of the
landscapes of Pine Rivers will be diminished if we
do not protect our native vegetation.
ƒ Some people, even on large blocks, clear all or
most of the trees, shrubs and groundcovers, and
replace these with lawns. Others do this to replant
with introduced garden plants, many of which are
invasive weeds and which change the character of
the natural landscape.
ƒ When native vegetation is replaced with lawns and
exotic garden plants, introduced animals
(sparrows, starlings, spotted turtle-doves, Indian
mynors and cane toads) and aggressive open-area
native birds (noisy miners, butcher birds and
magpies) become common, driving away other
native species.
ƒ Many prestigious localities, because of their high
quality environments, have tree preservation local
laws applying to them. Frequently they are much
sought after by land and home buyers. A very few
new owners then assume (quite selfishly) that they
may destroy any plants they wish, while expecting
that their neighbours will keep their trees to
maintain the pleasant environment that makes the
properties in the localities more valuable.
Reasons Why Plants Or Groups of Plants Are
Protected By Tree Preservation Local Laws
Historic
The Pine Rivers area was one of the first in
Queensland to be visited and settled by Europeans.
The lost cedar-getters, Parsons, Pamphlett and
Finnegan wandered through here in 1823. John Oxley
and Allan Cunningham sailed up the Pine River to cut
Hoop Pines. Escaped convicts travelled through the
area. The Archer brothers blazed the first European
‘road’ to Brisbane town along what was the Aboriginal
pathway to and from the north. Tom Petrie was one of
the first of the free settlers.
Many early settlers retained or planted trees and
groups of trees. Bells Scrub and Golds Scrub are
significant examples of retained original bushland.
Cultural
Aboriginal pathways, ‘bora’ rings, middens and
scarred trees are some of the invaluable, indigenous
cultural reminders of our Aboriginal heritage. Plants
associated with these are precious. Trees and groups
of trees planted in colonial times in public places and
on private property are also considered worthy of
protection as relics of our past. Examples of trees
protected for cultural reasons include avenue trees at
Mango Hill and along Anzac Avenue.
Environmental
Plants protected for their environmental values
include species that are necessary for the survival of
particular animals or natural communities. For
example, koalas need food trees, habitats and
corridors. Black Cockatoos require certain She-oak
trees, the fruits of which are their main source of food.
Greater Gliders and Powerful Owls, like other species,
require a certain minimum area of suitable habitat to
ensure their survival.
Vegetation along streams helps prevent erosion,
provides habitats and corridors for wild life, shades
margins of waterways to maintain aquatic habitats
and aids the filtering of pollutants from water.
Endangered, vulnerable, rare, or uncommon species
of plants may be listed for protection. These plants,
and the animals dependent upon them, could
become locally extinct if some of their habitat is not
protected.
Habitat trees, usually old ones, are those with hollow
trunks or branches that provide shelter, refuge and/or
breeding places for many of our birds, marsupials,
bats, reptiles, frogs and other animals. Although
many old, hollow trees are cut down for supposed
safety reasons, they are often no more dangerous
than younger, actively growing trees. Dead trees with
hollows are also very valuable as habitat, providing
nesting, shelter and refuge sites. Many are not
dangerous and may be left standing.
Aesthetic
A large number of residents give ‘the natural
bushland character of the Shire’ as their reason for
choosing to live here. Council therefore has
catalogued areas, such as treed skylines along ridges,
to maintain the natural Australian landscape in and
near areas where housing developments take place.
These areas also act as wildlife corridors and habitat.
Birds that inhabit these treed areas forage during the
day in nearby gardens.
Benefits of Living in Areas Where Natural
Bush Still Exists
ƒ Greater variety and numbers of wildlife.
ƒ Trees provide protection from strong sunlight.
ƒ Shrubs and trees give protection from strong
winds.
ƒ The air is fresher and cleaner.
ƒ It is cooler in summer and warmer in winter than in
cleared areas.
ƒ Values of properties increase where more natural
vegetation remains. This will be especially so in the
future, as urban populations rise and fewer
bushland areas exist.
ƒ It has been found that during severe storms and
cyclones (for example Cyclone Tracey at Darwin)
well-vegetated areas fare much better than new
suburbs where larger shrubs and trees have not
had time to develop. This is so even after we take
into account some house damage done by falling
trees and limbs.
What can we do to Help Preserve our Bush
and Native Animals?
ƒ If we are not fond of native plants and animals, we
should avoid buying in tree preservation areas. In
tree preservation areas, as well as elsewhere, we
should expect and want to preserve as many native
plants as possible.
ƒ If we have significant native plants or plant
communities, we should nominate these for tree
preservation. This, in time, will add value to our
properties.
ƒ Keep understorey and groundcover plants (if these
are not also on tree preservation). These add to the
variety of safe living places for small animals such
as fairy wrens, pardalotes, finches, honeyeaters,
lizards and frogs. These animals make our gardens
much more interesting, and help control pests.
ƒ Plant local native species in appropriate places.
For information about tree preservation on a
particular property, please phone Council on
(07) 3480 6666. Ask for Environmental Services.
We will need your RP number and Lot number
(See rate notice).