Deborah Collins
Jenny Quinton
Lucia Prilis
Lucy Humphrey

Regenerative Perspectives on a Council Initiative (Urban Tree Canopy Project)

Northern Beaches Local Government Area

The local Council wrote a plan to preserve and increase tree canopy on public land. The first draft, published in 2018, was ratified in 2023, with amendments yet to be included. Policies have not yet been implemented.

1) Local Community/region in Northern Beaches
2) The plan is close to completion, with amendments needing to be integrated and policies to be created.
3) Designed with some level of green aspiration - aims to increase and regenerate tree canopy across NB, particularly where it is low.
4) Working to bring some whole into being, not just solving a problem. A comprehensive plan to address tree canopy on public land.
5) Appropriate and interested contacts are available within the Council and among professional community members with relevant environmental skills.
We aim to provide fresh eyes on the plan and to offer a new perspective on the process.

Deborah, a resident and convener of Canopy Keepers, is lobbying the Council to complete the Canopy Plan, aware of its content and the process involved. She has connections with the Northern Beaches Council and a local councillor for project interviews. Her knowledge of tree science and the vernacular is beneficial.
Katrina is a long-term resident with first-hand experience discussing and lobbying the Council and local councillors to protect the local habitat, including the extensive areas of tree canopy in her community. She is passionate about retaining and growing the bush habitat in her area and seeks regenerative solutions to address this growing need as development activity outpaces her efforts.
Jenny is a former resident who is now living in Hong Kong. She has relevant experience and sees synergies in her work with the familiar laws, making this a pertinent project to participate in.
Lucia is an avid gardener, passionate about regreening her backyard and beyond.
Lisa Humphrey is an architect who has taught regenerative design to Master of Architecture students over the past year. Many of our projects have focused on this kind of landscape focus in public spaces and the important roles of urban trees. She is very interested in the potential to contribute to / lobby for policy change and regulation relating to regenerative built environment issues. She supports the benefits of urban trees and the need for new accounting models to account for broader social, environmental and economic benefits of urban trees beyond just planting and maintenance costs.
We have access to skilled/experienced people and a wide, relevant network of professionals.