FAQs
- Maintain or achieve at least 15% tree canopy cover on-site, or
- Pay an additional 10% in rates until the canopy target is met.
- Additions/ Extensions/ Pools
- Minor Structures – includes outbuildings, sheds, carports and verandas
- New Dwellings (single)
- Multi Dwellings.
- 226 Additions / Extensions / Pools
- 181 Minor Structures
- 55 New Dwellings (single)
- 31 Multi-dwellings
- Available space – Limited space can restrict the type or number of trees that can be planted.
- Tree maintenance – Concerns about pruning, leaf litter, root intrusion, and general upkeep can deter planting or encourage removal.
- Tree health and lifespan – Diseased or dying trees may be removed for safety or aesthetic reasons.
- Tree size and species suitability – Some trees may grow too large for the space or may not be appropriate for local soil or climate conditions.
- Cost – The expense of purchasing, planting, maintaining, or removing trees can be a barrier, particularly if they are classified as significant or regulated trees.
- Location on the property – Trees may interfere with driveways, buildings, solar panels, underground services, or infrastructure.
- Impacts on neighbours – Shade, debris, or overhanging branches can cause disputes or lead to tree removal.
- Awareness and attitudes – Lack of knowledge about the benefits of trees, or negative perceptions, can influence decisions.
- Legislation – Local laws, including significant or regulated tree controls, can also affect what trees can be removed or planted.
- Providing conservation grants to assist with the maintenance and pruning of significant and regulated trees. Offering free tree vouchers to help residents plant trees on their properties.
- Running educational campaigns that highlight the benefits of trees, their role in cooling and climate resilience, guidance on tree selection, planting and maintenance, and addressing common misconceptions.
- Advocating for stronger state legislation and enforcement to better protect trees, encourage tree planting and retention on development sites, increase penalties for illegal removal, and introduce a consistent, statewide tree valuation formula that recognises the environmental and community value of trees.
- Using LiDAR and heat mapping data to identify areas with lower canopy cover and target homeowners with tailored initiatives and incentives.
What is the proposed Tree Offset Fund?
The Tree Offset Fund is a 10-year trial proposed by the City of Unley to support tree planting and retention on development sites on private land where the building footprint is increased.
Under the proposed approach, new developments that increase the building footprint would be required to either:
Revenue collected through the fund would be used to buy land within the City of Unley for planting new trees and restoring tree canopy cover.
What are the benefits of the Tree Offset Fund?
The Tree Offset Fund will contribute to keeping Unley cooler, greener, and more resilient to climate change. Benefits include improved liveability through cooler streets, enhanced property values, better air quality, and more appealing public spaces. By helping to protect and increase tree canopy, residents will also benefit from long-term environmental and social improvements.
What type of developments would be impacted by the Tree Offset Fund?
All new developments approved during the ten-year trial period that increase the building footprint on a property would be impacted by the Tree Offset Fund.
This includes:
Who will need to pay into the Tree Offset Fund?
If a development is approved during the 10-year trial that increases the building footprint and leaves the property with less than 15% tree canopy cover, the property owner will be responsible for paying into the Tree Offset Fund.
Properties with 15% or more canopy cover won’t be affected.
What if the development occurred before I bought the property?
The Tree Offset Fund applies to the property itself, not the person who developed it.
If a new development that increased the building footprint was approved during the 10-year trial period, and the property does not meet the 15% tree canopy requirement, the registered property owner is responsible for meeting the requirements of the scheme - even if they didn’t build the development.
If the property already meets the 15% canopy target, no action is required.
How does development impact tree canopy cover in the City of Unley?
Council conducted a case study of 493 Development Applications (DAs) submitted in 2018 that resulted in an increase in building footprint to better understand how development impacts tree canopy in the City of Unley.
The case study found that in 2022, when most of the 2018 DA’s were likely to have commenced, a decline in total tree canopy was recorded. However, two years later (2024), when most of the construction was anticipated to have been completed, the total tree canopy cover had increased.
The data demonstrated that development does have an impact on tree canopy while construction is underway, however we could see that once construction is complete and landscaping has been established, canopy cover increases.
The 493 approved Development Applications in 2018 were then broken down into four categories of development types as follows:
TYPE | DA # | 2018-2024 Canopy Cover Change | |
-VE | +VE | ||
Extension | 226 | 31% | 69% |
Minor | 181 | 19% | 81% |
Multi Dwelling | 31 | 61% | 39% |
Single Dwelling | 55 | 70% | 30% |
Overall, the data showed that developments associated with extensions or minor Structures (83% of 2018 DAs) resulted in a canopy increase between 2018 (pre-construction) and 2024 (post-construction)
For single and multi-dwelling development, overall canopy cover declined as a result of construction, with the majority of these developments reflecting canopy decline in 2024 (post-construction), compared to 2018 (pre-construction) results.
To see the full report and results of this case study, please refer to the 24 February 2025 Council Agenda (Item 4.1, pages 6-20).
Can Council use rates as a financial incentive to plant more trees?
Council Rates are a form of tax. Currently there are 3 differential rate types, these are residential, retail, industrial and commercial other (land use).
Rates cannot be raised or adjusted based on the condition of the land; e.g. canopy cover level.
To implement the Tree Offset Scheme, Council would need to increase rates for all properties, and then provide a discount to those that achieved a minimum canopy by discounting their rates by the increase. This would incentivise those that did not have a minimum canopy cover to plant more trees to avoid the higher rates.
How will the Council administer and monitor compliance of the Tree Offset Fund?
While the concept itself is relatively clear, there are many details that would need to be worked through to better understand the full process from an operational and legal perspective. If pursued, the Council will need to do additional work on the concept as the Minister may require Council to fully develop the Tree Offset Fund before he considers it.
What if the property does not have any space for trees?
Owners of new properties with no space for trees can contribute to tree canopy goals through the proposed Tree Offset Fund. This approach recognises their limitations while still contributing to the broader community benefit of a greener, cooler City.
Will a trial for the Tree Offset Fund go ahead if it has community support?
Council is seeking community feedback on the proposed Tree Offset Fund initiative at this time. Whilst we do not have the power to introduce a Tree Offset Fund ourselves, strong community support could help us advocate to the Minister for Planning for a ten-year trial of the Tree Offset Fund.
What else impacts tree planting and retention on private land?
There are several factors that influence whether trees are planted or retained on private land. These include:
Why is tree canopy important?
Tree canopy plays a vital role in creating cooler, healthier, and more liveable urban environments. Suburbs with greater tree canopy can experience lower surface temperatures by up to 10°C compared to areas with minimal canopy. Tree canopy also helps improve air quality, is good for our health and wellbeing, reduces stormwater runoff, supports biodiversity, and enhances property values.
What is the City of Unley’s tree canopy cover target?
The City of Unley has a target of 31% tree canopy cover to be achieved across the city by 2045.
Can the City of Unley achieve its canopy cover target of 31%?
Yes, it is possible for the City of Unley to achieve its canopy cover target of 31%, but not alone. With 80% of Unley’s land not under the care and control of the Council, the support of private property owners is required to achieve this target.
How has tree canopy cover in the City of Unley changed over time?
The City of Unley has been tracking tree canopy trends (increases and decreases) across public and private land using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology since 2018.
Council collected tree canopy cover data in 2018, 2022, and 2024, with the trend over this period indicating that tree canopy cover is generally increasing across the city.
In 2018, the City of Unley had 18.93% canopy cover across the city. The results of the latest LiDAR assessment (captured in February 2024) indicated that there is now 25% canopy cover across the city of trees 3m or greater in height.
More specifically, canopy cover across council owned land was 46.8% for road and 41.2% on other land (e.g. parks). The canopy cover across private property was measured as being 20.16% in 2024.
The 2024 LiDAR data identified the following changes in tree canopy between 2022 and 2024.
What does the City of Unley do to encourage private property owners to plant new and retain existing trees on their land?
The City of Unley is committed to supporting private property owners to grow tree canopy cover on their land. Some of our initiatives include:
Why does Council allow property development with less than 15% canopy cover?
Decisions about property development are made under State Government planning laws, which do not currently require a minimum tree canopy cover. While new homes must include some tree planting based on the size of the property, other types of development don’t have the same requirement.
How does LiDAR technology work?
LiDAR technology is a remote sensing method that uses laser reflections of ground and other surfaces of the earth to provide high resolution topographic mapping. These reflections are used to make a digital three-dimensional image of objects on or near the ground, such as buildings, roads, and trees.
The resulting data was used to model tree canopies, including tree heights and canopy boundaries, providing an excellent understanding of the changes to tree canopy in the City of Unley, and the specific factors that have led to these changes.
You can view canopy changes at individual property levels using the MyCanopy app at mycanopy.unley.sa.gov.au