Town of Bassendean adds frangipanis, palm trees to list of ‘unwanted species'
Town of Bassendean residents will now be allowed to carry out works on trees that are on an 'unwanted tree species' list without first seeking approval.
Palm trees, broad leaf and Brazilian pepper trees, coral trees, box elder maples, frangipanis and robinias are on the list adopted by the council last month.
Residents with any of these trees on their property will not have to remove them. If they do decide to remove them, they will not need to seek development approval.
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A council report said palm trees offered minimal canopy and attracted pests such as the rainbow lorikeet or rats and the broad leaf and Brazilian leaf trees were introduced, weed-like species that could smother native vegetation.
'This tree species has been, and continues to be, a management issue within the town's reserves.' the report said.
The coral tree species is an introduced species that is 'extremely susceptible to infestation and are reproductive hosts of the polyphagous shot-hole borer, increasing the infestation risk to surrounding trees'.
The box elder was also identified as an introduced species which was also susceptible to infestation of PSHB and could increase infestation of surrounding trees.
Frangipani trees offered minimal canopy cover or environmental value, and robinias were identified as a risk for PSHB infestation.
Bassendean mayor Kathryn Hamilton said the town's decision to allow works on unwanted species was supported by arborists.
'(Reasons for the) removal of a regulated tree include the tree is in poor health and poses a risk to nearby structures, the tree is an unsuitable species that provides little or no canopy cover, for example palm trees, or the species is a weed specimen species and presents an environmental concern,' she said.
'If the tree obstructs infield development and cannot be retained without compromising its integrity in such cases where multiple trees are present on a site, the town has sought to retain the largest and most appropriate species.'
As part of its tree planting goals, the town will plant 500 street trees from June to September.
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