About the project

The Cadell Street avenue of trees is an iconic feature within Goolwa. As well as providing much-needed shade and amenity to the locality, they are part of the broader urban forest within the Goolwa area and the wider tree canopy across the district.

Why are we asking the community?

This project has come from consistent feedback from the local businesses and internal teams that the trees along Cadell Street (Gardiner Street to Goolwa Terrace) are causing a continuing nuisance to both property and infrastructure.

This nuisance comes in the form of:

  • Tree debris on buildings and on the ground, which can include leaves, flowers, fruit and branches. This amount of debris can be exacerbated by other factors such as corellas and adverse weather conditions.
  • Below-ground root systems disturbing kerbs, footpaths and roads.
  • Above-ground impacts, such as mobility and accessibility issues related to tripping hazards from the tree roots disturbing footpath paving and conflict between high-sided vehicles and branches.

The reports of nuisance need to be balanced alongside other feedback from the community, who value the aesthetics and environmental benefits of the trees and wish to protect and preserve them. Protecting and enhancing tree canopy in our townships also aligns with Council’s environmental values and strategic vision.

Protecting and enhancing tree canopy in our township also aligns with Council's environmental values and strategic vision.

About the trees

The same report advised that overall tree canopy coverage results for the Council area were 17.6%, with only 23.6% of that canopy being on public land.

In response, Council is proposing options to plan for the future of the Cadell Street street trees. This planning was approved as an operational project within the Annual Community Plan 2025/26.The project is limited at this stage to early engagement and consultation to inform future planning.

Roles and responsibilities

Local Government - tree management and public safety

Councils are responsible for the management of trees on land under their care and control, primarily from a public safety and risk perspective. However, this does not extend to ongoing maintenance of private assets or the management of natural debris within private properties. Property owners also retain responsibility for damage, maintenance and clean-up associated with trees on their land.

Local Government - environmental strategy

In addition to day-to-day tree management, Council also has a broader strategic planning role in relation to environmental sustainability and climate change adaptation.

The same report advised that overall tree canopy cover results for the Council area were 17.6%, with only 23.6% of that canopy being on public land.

In response, Council is proposing options to plan for the future of Cadell Street street trees. This planning was approved as an operational project within the Annual Community Plan 2025/26. The project is limited at this stage to early engagement and consultation to inform future planning.

Private property owners - tree management

Private property owners are responsible for the maintenance of their own land and buildings, including the clearing of roofs, gutters and downpipes, and the management of leaf litter and debris that accumulates on their property. This responsibility exists regardless of the source of that debris, including from adjacent street or neighbouring trees.

This consultation is limited to the six options listed above and detailed below.

Option 1

Option 1 - Keep trees and current level of maintenance

The existing trees remain and are maintained to current service levels and standards. This includes the levels of service around the maintenance of assets such as footpaths, kerbs and roads that are impacted by the trees.

Opportunities Consequences
  • Current look and feel of the street remains unaltered.
  • No change in budget or resources.
  • Tree management undertaken as per current policy and procedure.
  • Impacts to property and infrastructure remain the same, including but not limited to tree debris, kerbs, footpath and roads.
  • No planning to maintain a tree lined Cadell Street for future generations.
  • Tree management undertaken as per current policy and procedure. This would be on a case-by-case basis with no guarantee of replacement.


Tree debris can include leaves, pollen, flowers, nuts, fruit, seeds and branches.

Option 2

Option 2 - Keep trees with higher level of maintenance

The existing trees remain but the levels of service connected to the maintenance of the trees and assets such as footpaths, kerbs and roads, are increased. This may include but not limited to more frequent road and footpath sweeping, asset repairs and tree maintenance. Understanding that any change to the levels of service will likely require additional operational funding and resourcing.

Opportunities Consequences
  • Current look and feel of the street remains unaltered.
  • Tree management undertaken as per current policy and procedure.
  • Levels of service around maintenance of trees and assets are increased, such as footpath maintenance, street sweeping, kerb replacement and road replacement.
  • Additional and significant operational budget and resources required.
  • Impacts to property and infrastructure remain the same, including but not limited to tree debris, kerbs, footpath and roads.
  • No planning to maintain a tree lined Cadell Street for future generations.
  • Tree management undertaken as per current policy and procedure. This would be on a case-by-case basis with no guarantee of replacement.

Option 3

Option 3 - Progressive tree replacement (over 20 years)

This succession planning approach would mean the proactive and gradual replacement of trees (maybe a couple of trees per year) over 20 years, with a different species suited to the locality. This option would balance and retain the feel of the street with an avenue of trees, as well as allowing for new trees to mature and provide shade and amenity.

OpportunitiesConsequences
  • Current look and feel of the street remains somewhat unaltered.
  • No significant change in budget or resources.
  • Planned approach to maintaining a tree lined Cadell Street for future generations.
  • Levels of service around maintenance of trees and assets remain the same.
  • Impacts to property and infrastructure will improve but over a longer period of time noting that some form of tree debris will always be present.
  • Discontinuity in tree species, age and form

Option 4

Option 4 - Staged tree replacement (over 5 years)

This planned approach would mean the staged replacement of trees over 5 years, to see a more rapid replacement of the trees with species suited for the locality and retaining the feel of the street with an avenue of trees. This approach would have greater benefit in terms of reducing the impacts, however visually a lot more of the trees would be juvenile and young. This means it would take a while for shading and amenity to return.

OpportunitiesConsequences
  • Impacts to property and infrastructure will improve faster in the shorter-term tree debris will always be present.
  • Planned approach to maintaining a tree lined Cadell Street for future generations.
  • Levels of service around maintenance of trees and assets remain the same.
  • Current look and feel of the street will be altered in the short to medium term.
  • Some change in budget or resources will be needed for an accelerated removal and planting program.

Option 5

Option 5 - Total removal and replacement (2 years)

This approach would mean complete removal and replacement of all the trees within Cadell Street in a 2 year program. The replacement trees would be species suited for the locality and would look to retain an avenue of trees. This approach would have greatest benefit in terms of reducing the impacts, however visually this would dramatically change the amenity of the street for the short to medium term. This means it would take a while for shading and amenity to return.

OpportunitiesConsequences
  • Impacts to property and infrastructure will improve immediately, and while the volume of tree debris will be significantly reduced, it will not be completely eliminated.
  • Levels of service around maintenance of assets remain the same.
  • Budget and resources allocated to the maintenance of the trees and assets will be redeployed to other priority areas for the short term.
  • Has the possibility of providing the opportunity for other infrastructure projects to occur at the same time i.e. a streetscape upgrade.
  • Current look and feel of the street will be altered dramatically for the long term.
  • This includes the street becoming a hotter environment as our climate continues to change until the new trees have established.
  • Major short-term change in budget will be needed for an accelerated removal and planting program.

Option 6

Option 6 - Total removal and no replacement (1 year)

This approach would mean complete removal of all the trees within Cadell Street in 1 year program. No replacement of trees would occur, which is opposed to Council’s strategic and policy position. This approach would have greatest benefit in terms of reducing the impacts, however visually this would dramatically change the amenity of the street for the long term. This means things like shading and amenity would be gone, meaning the street scape would become hotter.

OpportunitiesConsequences
  • Impacts to property and infrastructure will improve immediately. Noting that tree debris will no longer be present.
  • Budget and resources allocated to the maintenance of the trees and assets will be redeployed to other priority areas.
  • Levels of service around maintenance of assets remain the same.
  • Has the possibility of providing the opportunity for other infrastructure projects to occur at the same time i.e. a streetscape upgrade.
  • Current look and feel of the street will be altered forever.
  • Major short term change in budget or resources will be needed for an accelerated removal program.
  • The street will become a hotter environment as our climate continues to change.


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Matters not covered by this consultation

This consultation does not cover more detailed discussions around the following:

  • species of replacement trees
  • number of trees being planted
  • locations of removals / plantings
  • streetscape enhancements.

Consultation on these issues will be covered in future community engagement depending on the outcome of this consultation.

At this stage no other projects are in the Strategic Delivery Plan 2025-2035, for Cadell Street, aside from this consultation. This includes no consideration of streetscape or other street enhancement work.

In addition, Council does need to consider the future of our street tree planting program and other revegetation and landscaping work on Council land.