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About this consultation

Our Trees Team recently consulted residents and property owners about the street trees along the nature strip in Milfay Court, Balwyn North.

The nature strips are wide, but the grafted Bechtel Crab Apple trees are small and they provide no shade or cooling benefit. Several trees are growing poorly. We want to plant better trees and increase canopy cover along the street. We proposed to:
  • remove all nature strip trees
  • plant new trees
  • where necessary, undertake soil improvement before we plant.

What we heard

All 9 households who had their say supported:

  • the proposal to replace street trees
  • the proposal to remove the trees marked for removal on the map below.

Of the 3 tree options below, the majority of households preferred the Pyrus calleryana x betulifolia ‘Edgedell’ (Edgeworth Ornamental Pear).

  • 7 households preferred this
  • 2 households preferred ‘Burnley Select’ Chinese Elm
  • 0 households preferred Kurrajong.

We will plant Edgeworth Ornamental Pears in Milfay Court.

There were 2 comments about the placement of new plantings.

One resident requested the new tree to go back in the same position as the current tree. Another resident commented on there being multiple trees at the Gardenia Road end but a large gap outside number 7.

In both cases, we planned new tree placement in response to the location of above- and below-ground services. We must meet current clearance requirements from power poles, and service connections into properties. Our assessment of the street included a review of Before You Dig Australia reports of service locations, and an onsite check. We are planting where we meet these requirements.

This means our the layout of new trees will not change from what's marked on the map, unless our contractor finds undocumented services when planting.

Next steps

We will remove and replace all nature strip trees in Milfay Court with:

  • Edgeworth Ornamental Pear, Pyrus calleryana x betulifolia 'Edgedell

We've investigated the placement of services along the street and we expect to be able to plant 15 new trees.

The photo below shows where trees could be removed and where new trees could be planted. You can slide the arrows in the centre of the photo to see the proposed changes.

Before: Aerial image of Milfay Court with red crosses indicating 14 trees to be removed After: Aerial image of Milfay Court with green circles showing location of 15 proposed new trees

Proposed tree types

  • Edgeworth Ornamental Pears will be planted

    Pyrus calleryana x betulifolia 'Edgedell'

    Expected mature height x width: 8 x 6 metres

    Medium-sized rounded deciduous tree with orange-brown bark. Glossy green leaves turn orange, red and purple in autumn before falling. White flowers in early spring develop into small, round orange-brown fruit in autumn that are held on the tree. Fruit may provide food for local birdlife.

    Main image shows young tree in street. Upper right image shows spring flowers. Lower right image shows autumn leaf colour.

  • Chinese Elm

    Ulmus parvifolia 'Burnley Select'

    Expected mature height x width: 7 x 5 metres

    Medium-sized deciduous tree with decorative, patchy grey and orange-coloured bark and glossy mid- to dark green leaves turning yellow in autumn. Flowers, and flat papery fruit are tiny and not noticeable, though seeds may attract native birds in autumn.

    Main image: Mature tree in Tannock St, Balwyn North. Upper right image shows small glossy green leaves. Lower right image shows patchy orange-grey coloured bark.

  • Kurrajong

    Brachychiton populneus

    Expected mature height x width: 6 x 6 metres

    Medium-sized, evergreen Australian tree has smooth, grey bark, robust trunk and branches and dark green leaves. In summer, tree produces bell-shaped white flowers with purple-speckles. Small woody fruit capsules are held on the tree, so produce limited litter. Orange seeds are a food source for native birds.

    Main image of mature tree in Neave St, Hawthorn East. Right side images show leaves, flowers, and capsules with seeds.