COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

HEADED ITEM NO. 18

HEADED ITEM: P. Realm

Proposed  Tree Maintenance Programme for 2017, 2018 & 2019

In line with the Council's Tree Management Policy 2015-2020 "Living With Trees", the focus of all future Tree Maintenance Programmes is on entire roads or whole estates. The objective of this approach is to increase the efficiency and productivity of the tree maintenance crews and advance a proactive programme of cyclical pruning targeting priority locations where intervention is most needed and where it will yield greatest community benefit.

The application of this more strategic and planned approach to tree maintenance commenced in delivery of the 2016 Tree Maintenance Programme. As a result, the efficiency of the Council’s tree maintenance operations has increased and public reaction has been generally positive.

In addition to the planned whole estate and road programme, reactive and emergency works will continue to be carried out on individually located trees as necessary in order to manage risks to the public. An emergency is defined as a tree that is in immediate and present danger of collapse or causing an obstruction requiring urgent attention. Emergency and reactive tree works will normally take priority over the planned programme of tree maintenance works in estates and it must be recognised that there is consequent impact on progress with the planned programme.

Currently, the Council has two full-time tree maintenance crews carrying out works, one operating primarily in areas north of the N7 and the other operating primarily in areas south of the N7. Provision has been made in the Council’s 2017 budget for setup of a third, full-time tree maintenance crew.

In order to further increase efficiency in planning and delivery of the Council’s tree maintenance service, a 3 Year Rolling Programme of Tree Maintenance is proposed for 2017, 2018 and 2019. This 3 year programme demonstrates further progress in developing a more strategic and planned approach to tree maintenance. The programme is informed and prioritised based on increased knowledge of the health and condition of our trees across the county and on cluster analysis of customer care enquiries as they relate to trees. In 2015 the Council commenced an ongoing baseline survey of street trees across the county and a tree management software system was purchased in early 2016. The recording of tree surveys and inspections into this tree management system is enabling the survey data to be queried and managed to inform the planning and prioritisation of estates for tree maintenance in a more effective manner. The proposed 3 year Programme of Tree Maintenance is a rolling programme to be reviewed annually and it will be published and regularly updated on the Council’s website www.sdcc.ie where it is can be easily accessed by elected members and members of the public.  

In advance of commencing works within an estate or road, a full survey of all trees at the location is carried out to inform the programme and scheduling of tree pruning. The survey involves an assessment of each tree’s health and condition and identifies the maintenance required, if any. During 2017, as tree surveys are completed and in advance of works commencing in an estate or road, it is planned to publish on the Council’s website the locations and details of tree maintenance works to be carried out in each estate. This will enable elected member and residents to access the details of tree works planned for a particular location.

The proposed programme for 2017 includes a small number of estates and roads carried over from the 2016 Tree Maintenance Programme. These locations will be prioritised for completion as early as possible in 2017. Some of these locations are noted as having trees in close proximity or in conflict with overhead electricity wires. In such locations, the required tree maintenance works need to be undertaken by an ESB approved arborist suitably qualified in the specialist skills of utility arboriculture. The Council is currently preparing the procurement process to seek the services of a suitably qualified arborist to undertake these works during 2017.

The following is a list of whole estates and roads proposed for tree maintenance in 2017, 2018 and 2019:

Whole Estates carried over from 2016 to be prioritised for completion in 2017

Estate/Road	Status	Notes
Beechwood Lawns, Rathcoole	Tree survey complete	ESB wires
Coolamber, Rathcoole	Tree survey complete	ESB wires
Castle Park, Castle Close, Castleview Road	Tree survey complete	ESB wires
Cherrywood Grove	Work in progress
Hazelwood Close	Tree survey complete
Monastery Rise	Tree survey to be completed
Newlands Road / Drive	Tree survey complete	ESB wires
Oakway	Tree survey in progress
Oldchurch	Tree survey to be completed
St Anthonys Avenue	Tree survey complete	ESB wires
Wheatfields Avenue	Tree survey to be completed
Woodford Drive	Tree survey to be completed

Commitments for tree maintenance of individually located trees carried over from 2016: no. of trees = 150

 

Additional Whole Estates / Roads 2017

 

Oakwood Grove

Wheatfields Court and Crescent - Open Space (Mature trees)

 

Whole Estates / Roads 2018

Estate / Road Name

Alpine Heights incl trees on O.S. overhanging

Ashwood

Boot Road

Castle Grove, Avenue and Drive

Castle Grange

Greenisle Road

Hazelwood Crescent, View, Lane, Bank

James Connolly Park

Kilcronan

Lealand

Monastery Rise and Monastery Road O.S. (Mature Trees)

Oakrise

Wheatfields

  

Whole Estates / Roads 2019

Estate / Road Name

Glenfield

Kilmahuddrick Close

Lindinsfarne

Monksfield Heights and Grove

Oakdowns

Oatfield

Pinewood

Riversdale

Rockfield

St Brigids Road

St Johns Wood West

St Johns Drive & St Johns Park West

St Ronans Green

Willow Avenue, Court and Drive

Westbourne