Residents calls for 40 per cent tree canopy target
The Peninsula Residents' Association has called for a 40 per cent target for tree canopy on the Peninsula by 2040 in its submission to Central Coast Council about its draft Street Design Manual.
The association has welcomed the adoption of a street design manual, but has urged the council not to squander the opportunity to improve local street design.
The submission calls for residential streetscape design principles to be spelt out for both public and privately-owned street frontage.
It argues for a reduction in hard surface area.
"The council has long prevented development within the front setback of a private property on the basis of good street design," the association stated.
"This manual is the opportunity to spell out the principles, but currently does nothing to address this aspect of street design, restricting itself to the public road.
"Its adoption should include changes to the Council's planning provisions to ensure enforcement.
"Our association is concerned about the increasing numbers of paved nature strips, and also of concreted private yards.
"Allowing carports on the front property boundary can reduce the need for paved driveways, without impeding sight lines."
The association said that street design "should also be informed by other council policies and plans".
"For example, the recently-exhibited Peninsula floodplain management plan highlighted the need to reduce hard surface areas on the Peninsula and recommended changes to the Council's Development Control Plan accordingly.
"The floodplain management plan also described the importance of street and garden design facilitating its strategy of overland dissipation of flood waters.
"The (street design) manual says nothing about garden design and front fencing, which arguably have the greatest impact on our streetscapes, as well as flooding consequences."
The association said it supported the Council's place-based approach to planning.
"The Peninsula ... is unique topographically.
"The majority of the residential settlement of the Peninsula is on a sandplain, under which lies a water table. This offers great potential for increased vegetation and tree canopy.
"The Peninsula has a unique grid of streets and lanes, which offer many street design possibilities, including designs for cul-de-sacs and low-trafficked areas which are based on soft and porous surfaces.
"The Development Control Plan has many specific provisions for the Peninsula, including Character Statements which spell out its desired future character.
"It is the association's submission that any street design manual that is to apply to the Peninsula should be written to support the desired future character of the area.
"Leafy streetscapes foster liveable communities. Science, medicine and planning is showing the truth of this."
Specific recommendations included adopting solar reflectance index requirements for street surfaces.
Realistic soil volume requirements for canopy trees were much greater than specified and porous surfaces were needed to allow adequate watering.
Local native species should be preferred, maintaining local biodiversity, and be actively maintained by the council.
The manual should be supported with community education and engagement, and support for groups such as the Peninsula's Grow Urban Shade Trees group, the submission stated.
SOURCE:
Media release, 28 Apr 2023
Jen Wilder, PRA