NEWS RELEASE
Updated Bylaw Provides More Protection to Trees
February 23, 2006
Surrey's 10-year old Tree Preservation Bylaw will be amended to reflect significant benefits for saving trees. Proposed changes include:
* Creation of a Tree Administrator position
* Hiring of an additional Bylaw Enforcement Officer and additional Environmental Technologist/Arborist
* Establishment of a Green City Reserve Fund (to plant trees in older areas at the request of residents)
* Prohibition of topping and excessive lift pruning of trees
Surrey's amended bylaw will reflect strong and positive strategies for maintaining and preserving the City's wealth of natural history, and will directly refer to international standards.
Mayor Dianne Watts, on behalf of City Council, commended staff and the community for the significant work done to save Surrey's many natural resources for future generations. "The Green City Reserve Fund will be used for planting trees on boulevards and streets where there are currently too few," stated Mayor Watts. "I would like to thank the many community groups and advisory committees who put such time and effort into researching and fine-tuning these positive changes."
An independent arborist will also be retained by the City to monitor developments related to protected and significant trees.
I like trees. I think they're great for so many reasons. (benefits of trees) I know a lot of Surrey residents don't like trees. Some of them happen to be Punjabi. I know this from the 3 times I've been to City Hall these past few months. Each time I've been there I've seen a punjabi person disputing a tree cutting violation, or applying to have trees cut down. Sometimes these requests are legitimate, ie. the tree is in the spot where their new house will be built.
Yesterday someone who hasn't been in Canada long told me that he (or she) is afraid of trees, because they might fall down and kill him (or her). How often does that happen?
A few months ago some else I know (also Punjabi) was looking into purchasing a house. This person said the house was perfect, but there was one problem. The problem was that there was a tree in the backyard. "How is that a problem?" I asked. I told him some of the benefits of trees, and he said that he might just cut the tree down illegally after purchasing the house.
What's wrong with these people? Luckily, the trees of Surrey will soon have an Administrator they can turn to for help.
(and yes, I do realize how silly all this may sound to some people)
