Water & environment · Nillumbik Shire Council
Nillumbik tree policy puts canopy protection at centre after 132 submissions
The adopted policy replaces Nillumbik’s 2018 tree rules, adds an education program and links future reporting to the shire’s canopy and biodiversity strategies.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
Nillumbik Shire Council has adopted a new tree policy after consultation involving 132 written submissions and three verbal presentations, replacing its 2018 Tree Management Policy and guidelines, according to the unconfirmed meeting minutes.
The Nillumbik Tree Protection & Management Policy’s stated approach is to avoid unnecessary tree removal, protect existing canopy and address unavoidable impacts through replacement planting and reinvestment in urban greening.
The policy also links tree management with canopy cover, climate resilience and habitat protection. It is intended to support decisions involving tree retention, removal and management, but the supplied meeting text does not identify particular properties, trees or development applications affected by the change.
Council’s resolution requires the policy to be published on its website and directs officers to develop and implement an education and communication program about the value and importance of trees. Officers must also report through annual action plan updates linked to the Urban Tree Canopy Strategy 2024 - 2040 and Biodiversity Strategy 2024 - 2034.
The Planning and Consultation Committee considered the written submissions and heard the three verbal presentations on 11 August 2026. The meeting record says the policy was refined after that feedback was considered.
Councillors adopted the policy with administrative corrections to several internal section references. The resolution states the corrections do not change the policy’s intent, scope, principles, policy position or operational requirements. It also requires Council to advise consultation submitters of the outcome. The motion, moved by Cr Grant Brooker and seconded by Cr John Dumaresq, is recorded as having carried unanimously.
The supplied meeting text does not set a timetable or budget for the website publication or education program. It does not include the full policy text, so it does not establish detailed replacement-planting or urban-greening requirements.
What deserves a closer look
The minutes record the policy's intended framework and required follow-up actions, but the supplied text does not give a timetable or budget for publication or the education program.
The supplied meeting text does not include the full policy, establish detailed replacement-planting or urban-greening requirements, or identify particular trees, properties or applications affected by the policy.
The Mayor's confirmation line is blank; the article treats the minutes as unconfirmed.
Questions for follow-up reporting
When will Council publish the adopted policy and begin the education and communication program?
What budget, measures and timetable will apply to the education and communication program?
How will annual action-plan updates measure the policy's effects on canopy cover, habitat protection and climate resilience?
What happens next
Under the recorded resolution, Council is to publish the adopted policy on its website.
Council is to develop and implement an education and communication program focused on the value and importance of trees.
Council is to advise consultation submitters of the outcome.
Officers are to report through annual action plan updates linked to the Urban Tree Canopy Strategy 2024–2040 and Biodiversity Strategy 2024–2034.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
Cr Grant Brooker moved and Cr John Dumaresq seconded a motion for Council to adopt the Nillumbik Tree Protection & Management Policy with administrative corrections to internal section references.
Officers' reports CM.109/26 Nillumbik Tree Protection & Management Policy 33 Council Resolution MOVED: Cr Grant Brooker SECONDED: Cr John Dumaresq That Council: 1. Adopts the Nillumbik Tree Protection & Management Policy (Attachment 1), incorporating the following administrative corrections to internal section references: a.
CM.109/26 Council Resolution, adoption and mover/seconder
Open original minutes ↗The quoted text states that the amendments are administrative corrections only and do not alter the policy's intent, scope, principles, policy position or operational requirements.
Notes that the above amendments are administrative corrections only and do not alter the intent, scope, principles, policy position or operational requirements of the Policy. 3. Authorises the Chief Operating Officer to make any further minor changes to the Nillumbik Tree Protection & Management Policy that may be necessary and are inconsequential in nature.
CM.109/26 Council Resolution, clause 2
Open original minutes ↗The quoted provisions call for publication of the Nillumbik Tree Protection & Management Policy on Council's website and development and implementation of an education and communication program about the value and importance of trees.
4. Publishes the adopted Nillumbik Tree Protection & Management Policy on Council's website. 5. Develops and implements an Education and Communication Program that focuses on the value and importance of trees.
CM.109/26 Council Resolution, clauses 4–5
Open original minutes ↗The quoted provisions call for revoking Tree Management Policy 2018 and Tree Management Guidelines 2018 and request officer reporting through Annual Action Plan updates via the Urban Tree Canopy Strategy 2024–2040 and Biodiversity Strategy 2024–2034.
6. Revokes Tree Management Policy 2018 and Tree Management Guidelines 2018 (Attachments 2 and 3). 7. Requests officers to report back to Council through the Annual Action Plan updates via the Urban Tree Canopy Strategy 2024-2040 and Biodiversity Strategy 2024- 2034.
CM.109/26 Council Resolution, clauses 6–7
Open original minutes ↗The resolution requires submitters to be thanked and advised of the consultation outcome, and is recorded as carried unanimously.
8. Thanks submitters and advises them of the outcome of the consultation process. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY Council Meeting Minutes 27 October 2026 12. Officers' reports CM.109/26 Nillumbik Tree Protection & Management Policy 34 Council Meeting Minutes 27 October 2026 12.
CM.109/26 Council Resolution, clause 8 and vote
Open original minutes ↗The policy summary describes avoiding unnecessary tree removal, safeguarding existing canopy, replacement planting and reinvestment in urban greening, and alignment with canopy cover, climate resilience and habitat protection outcomes.
The NTPMP represents a significant evolution in Council's approach to tree management by placing tree protection, retention and canopy enhancement at the centre of decision- making. It delivers a clear, contemporary framework that prioritises the avoidance of unnecessary tree removal, strengthens safeguards for existing canopy, and ensures that where impacts are unavoidable, they are appropriately mitigated through replacement planting and reinvestment into urban greening. Importantly, the Policy strengthens alignment with Council's adopted strategies, including the Urban Tree Canopy Strategy 2024–2040 and Biodiversity Strategy 2024–2034, to deliver measurable outcomes in canopy cover increase, climate resilience, and habitat protection.
CM.109/26 report summary
Open original minutes ↗The Planning and Consultation Committee considered a report outlining 132 written submissions and heard three verbal presenters on 11 August 2026; the report says the policy was refined after consideration of that feedback.
The Planning and Consultation Committee considered a report outlining the 132 written submissions received, and at the meeting on 11 August 2026 the Committee heard verbal submissions from 3 presenters. Having considered the feedback from the written and verbal submissions, refinements to the Policy have been made. Recommendation That Council: 1. Adopts the Nillumbik Tree Protection & Management Policy (Attachment 1).
CM.109/26 consultation summary
Open original minutes ↗The supplied record's Mayor's confirmation line is blank.
Confirmed: _______________________________ Cr Naomi Joiner, Mayor
Closing confirmation line
Open original minutes ↗Source record
This report is based solely on the supplied public minutes of the Nillumbik Shire Council meeting held on 27 October 2026, dated 30 October 2026. The Mayor’s confirmation line is blank, so this report treats the minutes as unconfirmed.
Key facts from the minutes
- The unconfirmed minutes record Council adopting the Nillumbik Tree Protection & Management Policy on 27 October 2026.
- The resolution revoked Tree Management Policy 2018 and Tree Management Guidelines 2018.
- The policy is to be published on Council’s website. Council also resolved to develop and implement an education and communication program about the value and importance of trees.
- The consultation process recorded 132 written submissions and three verbal presenters at the 11 August 2026 Planning and Consultation Committee meeting.
- The motion is recorded as having carried unanimously and included administrative corrections to internal section references.
Why it matters
- The policy provides an updated framework for tree-retention, removal and management decisions in Nillumbik. The supplied meeting text does not include the full policy or establish its practical effect for individual landowners, developers and other applicants.