COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

HEADED ITEM NO. 17

 

Proposed Tree Maintenace Programme for 2017, 2018 and 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
Airlie Heights	Tree survey to be completed	64 trees crown lifted in 2016.
Ardeevin	Tree survey complete. Works to be scheduled.	ESB wires
Abbeywood	Tree survey to be completed
Ballyowen Estate	Tree survey complete. Works to be scheduled
Cherbury Park	Works complete
Culmore Road	Tree survey to be completed
Elmbrook Estate	Tree survey to be completed
Hermitage Park Estate	Tree survey commenced
Palmerstown Avenue	Tree survey to be completed
Palmerstown Court	Tree survey to be completed
Woodville	Tree survey to be completed	102 trees crown lifted in 2016.
Woodview	Tree survey to be completed
Woodview Heights	Tree survey to be completed	40 trees crown lifted in 2016.

Commitments for tree maintenance of individually located trees carried over from 2016: no. of trees = 75

 

Additional Whole Estates / Roads 2017

 

Hillcrest

Mount Andrew

Riversdale estate – mature trees on open space area

Willsbrook Park – trees categorised as Priority 1 in Arborist’s report

  

Whole Estates / Roads 2018

Estate / Road Name

Ballydowd Grove

Beech Park

Bewley – mature trees on open space area

Cluain Ri and Cluain Ri Park – mature trees

Lucan Heights

Palmerstown Lawn, Close and Green

Palmerstown Woods

St Andrews / The Fairways

Sarsfield Park – mature trees

Wheatfield Road

  

Whole Estates / Roads 2019

Estate / Road Name

Cannonbrook

Colthurst (to include Castle Road at estate entrance)

Edmondsbury Court

Foxborough Road and Avenue

Lucan village

Oakcourt

Palmerstown Drive

Roselawn

Weston

Whitethorn