Urban Forest Maintenance
The Urban Forest is a significant feature of the University of New England’s campus. It contributes to the campus’ character, provides shade, enhances biodiversity, and improves the health, wellbeing and experience of students, staff and visitors.
During the annual inspection the Arborist assesses the risk of each tree, taking into account not just the structural condition, but the location (e.g. whether it located in an area that is highly trafficked by pedestrians such as a main footpath), whether or not there are visible defects such as soil lifting or cracking, and the environmental, social and cultural significance of the tree. The tree is assigned a risk rating of: A rating of high, urgent or critical risk is deemed to be unacceptable, with the probability of failure being likely to certain and consequences rated serious or above. As such, it is necessary to remove some trees where alternative actions such as implementing exclusion zones or installing supporting hardware are not possible. UNE has developed communication protocols to keep students, staff and the broader Armidale community up to date regarding tree maintenance activities. This includes regular pruning, emergency removal (e.g. trees damaged during storms) and the planned removal of high, urgent and critical rated trees. Capital Development Communication Plan Scheduled Tree Removal Communication Plan Unscheduled Tree Removal Communication Plan The University is committed to removing all urgent and critical risk rated trees. University’s arborists risk ratings will not be altered at any stage. Any recommendations on alterations to high risk trees to reduce risk will be approved by the University’s arborists before any work is commenced. As part of the solar farm project 3,000 native trees have been planted. Water is being sourced from a dam at Laureldale Farm, one of UNE's rural properties. Species include: 30/04/2024: The annual arborist inspection on campus trees was recently completed. 42 high risk trees were identified, and as per the communication protocols outlined in the Tree Management Plan, the arborist recommendations have been shared with UNE's Landscape Advisory Committee for feedback. If you would like further information on proposed works, please contact environment@une.edu.au. Here is a link to an interactive map that shows the trees that are assessed by arborists each year (not every tree is assessed). You can select an individual tree to find out the tree ID number and species. If you would like to search for a specific tree, select the "layer" icon at the top right hand side of the map and click on UNE Trees 2019 and select "view attributes in table". Then you can scroll through the trees and double click to zoom to a specific tree. The Landscape Advisory Committee (LAC) was established by the University of New England to provide a forum for consultation with and obtain feedback from the University community regarding the development, management and maintenance of the natural bushland and landscape spaces at the Armidale Campus. The objectives of the Group are: Membership Kath Little, Operational Services Manager, Estate and Built Environment (Chair)
Steven Ahoy, Aboriginal Cultural Advisor, Estate and Built Environment
Damien Andrew, Technical Officer, Ecosystem Management
Emeritus Professor Jeremy Bruhl
Bede Davies, Civil Coordinator, Estate and Built Environment
Dr Rachelle Hergenhan, SMART Farms Industry Engagement Officer
Suzannah Mitchell, Environmental Sustainability Manager, Estate and Built Environment
Dr Andrew Thornhill, Director NCW Beadle Herbarium
Dr Ralph Whalley (Wal), Adjunct Associate Professor, Botany
Two student representatives
In maintaining this Urban Forest, the University has a duty of care to take all reasonable and practicable steps to ensure a safe environment, free from hazards to the health and safety of students, staff and visitors to the campus.
To ensure this approach is structured and well governed the University employs professional level 5 Arborists to inspect annually over 4,000 trees across the campus, including the SMART farms, to assess each trees life cycle and the risk each tree poses to individuals, as well as the built environment.
This assessment process also allows University management to proactively identify structural issues impacting upon tree stability and resulting viability. Using this information mitigation strategies are developed to inform rectification works to safeguard the tree and extended its life cycle and resulting environmental impact.
An unavoidable component of this management planning activity is the removal of trees resulting from complete structural failure, poor tree condition, end of life cycle issues and capital works. Before this option is approved all other avenues for maintaining the trees will be explored. This may involve, but is not limited to, dead wooding, bracing, exclusion zones and as a last resort retaining the tree as a habitat structure.
To further demonstrate the Universities commitment to ensuring a well governed approached to the management of the campus landscape it has established the Landscape Advisory Committee (LAC) and the Landscape Management Committee. These groups contain representatives from professional and academic staff and also student representatives. The primary objective in the establishment of these two bodies is to assist in considering campus landscape management issues, including the University’s tree management plans.
One of the key objectives of these committees is to establish clear and transparent mechanisms for considering and communicating landscape management issues across campus. In working towards achieving this the LAC have developed a series of communication flow processes to officially document the required communication and decision-making structures pertaining to a variety of tree management issues. Committing to these processes will ensure that key stakeholders are informed and involved in tree management decisions effecting the campus and can be found below as well as current tree maintenance work planned on campus.
The University has also made a commitment to cultivating and developing the value of the campus landscape and has pledged to plant 5 trees for every tree removed through this Urban Forest maintenance project.
Tree Management Plan
A Tree Management Plan (TMP) has been developed to address these legislative requirements for UNE as owners of the high voltage network. The objectives of the TMP are to address the Work Health and Safety aspect of the vegetation on campus by:
- Managing the risk associated with falling trees or limbs, as identified through regular inspections of the trees by a minimum Level 5 Qualified Arborist; and
- Safely maintaining the electricity infrastructure on campus by ensuring vegetation does not impact the electrical network, both above and below ground.
The Tree Management Plan is available to view here.
Conservation Zones: Protecting Endangered Ecological Communities
Ribbon Gum - Mountain Gum - Snow Gum Grassy Forest/Woodland of the New England Tableland Bioregion
UNE is home to an Endangered Ecological Community which is characterised by the following assemblage of species:
