With residents continuing to raise concerns over Norfolk Island pine trees damaging their properties, North Ward councillor Ahmed Zilani's motion to review the City's tree management policy was unanimously supported last month.
The review will include whether to add the Norfolk Island pine tree to the 'inappropriate tree species' list.
In the motion, Cr Zilani said a review of the tree management policy would provide greater certainty to residents.
"Given the ongoing community concerns in relation to verge trees, and the current policy's ambiguity, it is appropriate for the policy to be reviewed," he said.
"A policy review will provide greater certainty to residents, and give clear direction to City of Mandurah officers in relation to tree management.
East Ward councillor Don Pember, who supported the motion in council, said the Norfolk Island pine trees raised a number of environmental concerns.
"It is not native to the Australian mainland...it is not a natural habitat for birds," he said.
"They provide little shade and deplete the water table, the leaves and cones drop to the ground in windy conditions and spread a long way."
In an interview with the Mandurah Mail, mayor Rhys Williams said the review would give the City a chance to recognise "community angst in some parts".
"The Mandurah urban tree canopy has grown and the reason it has grown is because the people of Mandurah and the council value trees and this review is only about looking at what to do in those fairly infrequent circumstances that it isn't working," he said.
"The motion the council adopted to review the policy will give us a chance to take another look at what our tree processes are.
"It is important that the council is recognising there is community angst in some parts around verge trees and the new policy will work to address that."
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In the current tree management policy, Norfolk Island pine trees can be planted on the main road, in public open spaces, and if requested by a developer for an estate.
Despite this policy, only replacement trees have been planted in the last 15 years.
The review of the tree management policy is expected to come back to council at its November meeting.
