Tweed Shire Council is taking action to protect and grow our urban forest and we want to hear from you. We’ve drafted a new Compensatory Planting Policy to guide how important trees and vegetation are replaced when they’re approved for removal. You’re invited to share your feedback and help shape how we balance development with the environment.
What we're asking:
Is the policy clear and fair?
Are the compensation options practical?
What would make this work better for you?
What the policy covers
The draft Compensatory Planting Policy outlines how trees and vegetation approved for removal will be replaced, either through onsite planting or a financial settlement.
The policy applies only to regulated vegetation that is approved to be cleared through a tree permit or development approval, and only when such clearing cannot be reasonably avoided or mitigated. Regulated vegetation is defined in Council's Development Control Plan (DCP) Section A16 Preservation of Trees and Vegetation.
The policy provides:
guidance on when compensation is required
information on how compensation is calculated
options for compensation
Read these examplesto understand how compensation will be calculated.
Why do we need this policy?
The many benefits of trees in urban areas are recognised through Council’s Cool Towns: Tweed Shire Urban Forest Program which aims to increase the average total canopy cover in urban areas from 26.8% to 35% by 2030 and then to 40% by 2040. Council has a role to ensure that the social and environmental impacts of tree and vegetation removal are addressed consistently and fairly in the Tweed Shire.
Replacement planting is not new, and Council already conditions replacement plantings as part of tree permits and development approvals. This policy seeks to provide greater clarity to applicants on the way compensatory planting is calculated to address the impacts of tree clearing.
Have your say
We're asking everyone to help restore our urban forest when trees are removed. Please read the draft policy before submitting your feedback so your input can be properly considered in the final recommendations.
Share your feedback by 4pm Wednesday 22 October 2025 in one of the following ways:
Tweed Shire Council is taking action to protect and grow our urban forest and we want to hear from you. We’ve drafted a new Compensatory Planting Policy to guide how important trees and vegetation are replaced when they’re approved for removal. You’re invited to share your feedback and help shape how we balance development with the environment.
What we're asking:
Is the policy clear and fair?
Are the compensation options practical?
What would make this work better for you?
What the policy covers
The draft Compensatory Planting Policy outlines how trees and vegetation approved for removal will be replaced, either through onsite planting or a financial settlement.
The policy applies only to regulated vegetation that is approved to be cleared through a tree permit or development approval, and only when such clearing cannot be reasonably avoided or mitigated. Regulated vegetation is defined in Council's Development Control Plan (DCP) Section A16 Preservation of Trees and Vegetation.
The policy provides:
guidance on when compensation is required
information on how compensation is calculated
options for compensation
Read these examplesto understand how compensation will be calculated.
Why do we need this policy?
The many benefits of trees in urban areas are recognised through Council’s Cool Towns: Tweed Shire Urban Forest Program which aims to increase the average total canopy cover in urban areas from 26.8% to 35% by 2030 and then to 40% by 2040. Council has a role to ensure that the social and environmental impacts of tree and vegetation removal are addressed consistently and fairly in the Tweed Shire.
Replacement planting is not new, and Council already conditions replacement plantings as part of tree permits and development approvals. This policy seeks to provide greater clarity to applicants on the way compensatory planting is calculated to address the impacts of tree clearing.
Have your say
We're asking everyone to help restore our urban forest when trees are removed. Please read the draft policy before submitting your feedback so your input can be properly considered in the final recommendations.
Share your feedback by 4pm Wednesday 22 October 2025 in one of the following ways:
Help shape the future of trees in the Tweed is currently at this stage
This policy is open for feedback.
Under Review
this is an upcoming stage for Help shape the future of trees in the Tweed
Feedback on this policy is now closed for evaluation and review.
Final report
this is an upcoming stage for Help shape the future of trees in the Tweed
The final outcomes of the consultation are documented here. This may include a summary of all contributions collected as well as recommendations for future action.
