The City's tree management policy will be on the agenda at the Mandurah council meeting on Tuesday night, after a motion to review the policy was unanimously supported in August.
Swamped with calls from residents frustrated about damage to their properties, Cr Ahmed Zilani previously called on the City to make its tree policy more clear to residents and to add the Norfolk Island pine to the 'inappropriate tree species' list.
On review, officers felt the existing policy could be improved by providing additional information to create a clearer direction on how trees are managed within the City.
If adopted by council, the new tree management policy will include more specific information on tree management with regard to tree selection, maintenance, removal and/or replacement, and enforcement.
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However, Norfolk Island pine trees were deemed "a suitable tree selection in specific locations that take into consideration the ultimate size and growth characteristics of the tree".
A consultant arborist considered Norfolk Island pines to be "highly suitable" for use within Mandurah.
The use and suitability of Norfolk Island pines was considered following officer consultation, a desktop audit of available scientific literature, review of previous arborist reports, and a consultant arborist technical review.
The new policy will align with the Greening Mandurah Framework and Street Tree Masterplan, which are also set to be voted on by council tonight.
City staff reportedly audited 40,000 trees over two and a half years to form the masterplan "to protect, nurture, value and enhance shade providing trees across Mandurah".
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City of Mandurah chief executive Mark Newman said the masterplan was of extreme importance for the future of the City.
"We are at an exciting point in time following a lot of work by officers to try and create a masterplan," he said.
"The big picture is about the future and the importance of trees to our environment and to our livability - that's the key focus for us.
"We realise out of the plan will come a lot of discussion about tree types and we'll leave that discussion to the community and the councillors but what we are trying to show is the importance of having this masterplan for the future of Mandurah."
The Mandurah council will vote tonight on whether it endorses the new street tree management policy, the Greening Mandurah Framework and Street Tree Masterplan.
More to come.
