Tree Offset Fund Survey

As a proud Tree City of the World, the City of Unley is committed to growing a greener, healthier and more climate-resilient community. We've set an ambitious target in our Tree Strategy — to increase tree canopy cover to 31% by 2045 — because we know trees are vital. They cool our streets and provide shade, beautify our neighbourhoods, clean our air, provide habitat for wildlife, improve our health and wellbeing, increase property values, reduce flood risk and enable healthy soil by soaking up rainwater and offer many other benefits. 

Council is actively protecting and planting trees on public land, but with around 80% of land not under the care and control of Council, we can't achieve this vision without community support. The good news is we're heading in the right direction—but we still have a long way to go. 

We know that trees on private land are sometimes removed for many reasons, like maintenance costs, tree location, species suitability and leaf litter. One of Council's growing concerns, however, is the impact of urban development on tree canopy loss. As more homes are renovated or built, trees are often cleared to make space. 

The Tree Offset Fund Proposal 

That's why we're considering a Tree Offset Fund—a local initiative to help minimise canopy loss caused by development and to support our long-term target. While recent State Government planning reforms are a welcome step, they don't go far enough to ensure any tree at all is either planted or retained when a new development increases the built-up areas. This local initiative would add another tool to our kit —complementing the work we already do to help retain and maintain trees on private land, including our conservation grant, free tree vouchers and education programs amongst other initiatives. 

The idea for a Tree Offset Fund responds to recommendations from our award-winning Shaping Unley: Building Greener Neighbourhoods project, including the call to ‘advocate for minimum tree canopy cover on all development sites that increase the building footprint.’  

How would it work? 

If implemented, the proposed Tree Offset Fund would be a ten-year trial to help offset tree loss caused by development on private land. Under the proposal, only new developments that increase the building footprint will either: 

• Maintain or achieve a 15% tree canopy cover on-site, or 
• Pay an additional 10% in rates until this target is met 

Funds raised would go towards purchasing land in the City of Unley for tree planting and canopy restoration. 

How to have your say

Please read the FAQs and find more information of this proposal on the Your Say Unley Project Page. Share your feedback by completing our short online survey by no later than 11.59pm Wednesday 6 August 2025.