Significant tree management

Tree with wide canopy in local car park

Brimbank Council has a Significant Tree Register where trees that meet criteria of the National Trust in relation to aspects such as aesthetical, historical, cultural and spiritual significance.  

To preserve this character for future generations, residents can nominate a special example to be included on our Significant Tree Register. 

Protecting large, significant trees across the Brimbank municipality is one of the actions of the Urban Forest Strategy.

Significant Tree Register

Our Significant Tree Register includes approximately 1,000 council owned or maintained trees. The Significant Tree Register is continually updated as new significant trees are identified or as existing significant trees die.

Developing a Significant Tree Register

To develop a Significant Tree Register we consulted with the community to:

  1. determine the criteria for classifying a tree or group of trees as significant; and
  2. identify any Council owned or maintained tree(s) or group of trees that the community thought should be included in the register.

What is a significant tree?

The criteria for a significant tree or trees includes:  

  • Horticultural/botanical/environmental value;
  • Historical significance/commemorative;
  • Location or context;
  • Aboriginal/cultural;
  • Particularly old;
  • Outstanding size;
  • Curious growth form; and
  • Outstanding example of the species

Significant trees can be a single tree or a group of trees that meet the above criterion.

Examples of significant trees

  • Allepo Pine, Old Calder Highway, Keilor
    • A descendant of the original Lone Pine at Gallipoli.
  • 17 Willey Street, Sunshine North 
    • Significant due to its size as one of the only large trees in this area.

Examples of groups of significant trees

  • H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens
    • Located in a Heritage listed garden forming an integral part of the historical landscape.
  • Old Calder Highway, Keilor including Arthur Kiellerup Reserve (adjacent to Keilor Recreation Reserve) and Cliff Harvey Lagoon Reserve
    • Have historical context marking the route to the goldfields and their contribution to the Keilor landscape.
  • Waterfield Park, Cairnlea
    • Large stand of sugar gums representing the historical context of Cairnlea.

Management of significant trees

We manage significant trees by:

  • A Proactive Inspection Program. Depending on a tree's species and location, inspections range from biannually to every two years.
  • An independent arborist assessment. This tells us a tree's condition, lifespan and recommendations for prolonging its life.
  • Succession planting. This ensures that when a tree does die, other trees are growing to lessen the impact of its removal.

The Tree Policy (PDF 1.96MB) and The Significant Tree Policy (PDF 227KB) complement our Urban Forest Strategy.

Adding a tree to the register

If you believe a tree meets the criteria for a significant tree, contact our Parks Services Unit Manager on 03 9249 4000 or info@brimbank.vic.gov.au.

Review date
Last updated: 17 September 2024 - 9:01am