Report on Bellair Street trees
Report on Bellair Street trees, March 2008 - summary

(not including graphics, photos and plans - contact the Association for full report)

The City of Melbourne is finalising the consultation on the proposed upgrading of Bellair Street between Arden and Ormond Streets.
 
Following the community meeting held on February 19 Council has as discussed distributed information on the individual tree assessments that outlines the nature of the individual tree hazard and retention opportunity.  This information is attached.  It was also decided at the meeting to hold another meeting to further discuss the proposal and way forward with interested parties.  This meeting will be held on Monday 31 March at 6.30pm in the Holy Rosary School Hall 37 Gower Street.  This is the same location as the previous meeting.
 
Council has developed two options that will be voted on by the residents and non-resident owners of properties of Bellair Street between Arden and Ormond Streets, and the Kensington Residents Association. These options are:
 
Option 1 Complete Upgrade.  This option will see the removal of all 24 existing trees, reconstruction of kerb and channel, repaving of the footpath and planting of 24 new trees into water treatment tree pits.  The water treatment tree pits capture stormwater before it flows into our drains and filters out litter, oil and other pollutants washed from the street and residences.  This proposal is outlined in the attached plans.
 
Option 2 Tree Replacement.   This option will see the removal and replacement of only the trees identified as hazardous.  A total of 15 trees will be removed and 9 trees retained.  The attached 'Bellair St Tree Numbers' pdf indicates the removals and retentions except tree 3436 which could be retained in the short to medium term.  No upgrading of kerb and channel or footpath would be undertaken and trees would be replanted into the existing road pavement locations with no water treatment pits.
 
In both options London Plane trees of between 2.5 and 3.5m tall would be planted. Council is also exploring the opportunity for cable bundling of overhead wires.
 
If you have any comments or questions regarding this information please contact Ian Shears on 9658 8516 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 

Bellair St Tree Evaluation - Arden to Ormond Streets                    
                    
Tree ID    Location*    Species    Hazard Rating*    Defect    Retention Opportunity
3414    Crn Bellair and Ormond In front of 264    London Plane    6    Minimal decay scaffolds and branches    No hazard, can be retained
3415    2nd Tree from Ormond Infront of 264    London Plane    11    Major decay and cavity through trunk and scaffolds, excessive end weight on branches, canopy dieback, foliage discoloration.  High failure potential.    Not possible to make safe.
3416    In front of 266    London Plane    11    Extensive decay and cavity in trunk and into scaffold branches.  Massive end weight    Not possible to make safe.
3417    In front of 268    London Plane    8    Some decay in scaffold branches, no immediate concern. Foliage colour and density normal.    No hazard, can be retained
53796    In front of 278 adjacent to laneway    London Plane    0    Young tree, no defects or hazard.    No hazard, can be retained
3419    In front 278/282    London Plane    10    Decay and cavity through upper trunk and scaffold.  Heavy weight in extended branches.    Exstensive canopy removal required to make safe - no amenity value post reduction.
3420    In front of 282    London Plane    11    Decay through trunk and into scaffold, likely canopy failure resulting from excessive end weight.    Exstensive canopy removal required to make safe - no amenity value post reduction.
3421    In front of 288    London Plane    12    Column of decay and cavity from trunk through to scaffolds Excessive weight on branches.    Not possible to make safe.
3422    Crn Bellair and Tennyson In front of 290    London Plane    11    Column of decay and cavity from trunk through to scaffolds Excessive weight on branches.  High risk of failure of major limbs over property.    Not possible to make safe.
3423    In front of 294    London Plane    11    Major decay through trunk and scaffolds, dieback of previous callusing, high failure potential.    Not possible to make safe.
3424    In front of 296    London Plane    11    Major trunk and scaffold decay, cavity in trunk and scaffold, excessive end weight and high potential of crown failure.    Not possible to make safe.
3425    In front of 300    London Plane    10    Decay and cavity in trunk and scaffold, excessive end weight.    Exstensive canopy removal required to make safe - no amenity value post reduction.
3426    In front of 304/306    London Plane    12    High levels of decay in trunk and scaffolds, excessive end weight, torsion crack in trunk.  High risk of upper canopy failure.    No opportunity to retain through hazard abatement.
3427    In front of 308    London Plane    12    High levels of decay in trunk, excessive end weight.  High risk of upper canopy failure.    Exstensive canopy removal required to make safe - no amenity value post reduction.                        
3428    In front of 312    London Plane    11    Excessive canopy dieback, major trunk decay and scaffols decay.    Exstensive canopy removal required to make safe - no amenity value post reduction.                        
3429    In front of 316    London Plane    12    Extensive decay with mishapen crown.    No opportunity to retain through hazard abatement.                        
3430    In front of 318    London Plane    10    Severe dieback of canopy, decay in trunk and scaffold branches.    Exstensive canopy removal required to make safe - minimal amenity value post reduction.                        
3431    In front of 322/324    London Plane    12    Major decay through trunk, torsion cracking and excessive end weight    No opportunity to retain through hazard abatement.                        
3433    In front of 330    London Plane    7    Tree is in reasonable health however form is poor, poor branch attachment and epicormic growth.    Not hazardous however will not be a good tree in the future with limited amenity contribution.                        
52693    In front of 334/336    London Plane    6    Overall good health but lacks central leader leading to poor structure in the future.    Not hazardous, can be retained.                        
3434    In front of 340    London Plane    6    Some decay in scaffold branches, overall good health, structure and vigour.    Not hazardous, can be retained.                        
3135    In front of 342/344    London Plane    6    Sound, healthy tree.    Not hazardous, can be retained.                        
3436    In front of 344, 2nd tree from Arden    London Plane    9    Decay and cavity present in trunk.    Not immediately hazardous, could be retained.                        
3437    In front of 344, crn tree to Arden    London Plane    6    Healthy tree that is structurally sound.    Not hazardous, can be retained.                        
                                            
Hazard Rating*    The hazard rating is a numerical rating combining Failure Potential, Size of Part that may fail and Target Rating.  Each category is rated out of 4 and a total rating of 10 and above indicates a high degree of hazard and removal or hazard abatement is required.