TREE STOCK ROADSHOW 2018

Phase two of the nursery industry’s review of Tree Standard AS2303:2015 is now underway, with a series of workshops to be held around the country next year. The aim of these workshops is to keep industry professionals up to date on recent findings, while ensuring that any changes to the standard are fit for purpose.

Tree Standard AS2303:2015 is commonly used by production nurseries, local councils, developers and landscape architects and seeks to provide growers and buyers with increased confidence that trees will have a long, productive life once they leave the nursery.

The research into the current standard is to determine whether or not the standard conforms to the current realities of establishing trees in landscape projects. Findings from phase one of the review have highlighted several challenges that arise from common practice and regulations, these issues often result in less than favourable outcomes for tree establishment and project success.

Led by the same Western Sydney University research team that delivered phase one of the project in 2016 and 2017, phase two of the review will extend of research that suggests that the current standard may, in fact, be too narrow or limiting for Australia’s varied growing regions and climatic zones. Phase one involved measuring the above and below ground morphological qualities, as well as the size index, of 13,000 trees across 23 nurseries.

The Tree Stock Roadshow in 2018 will present the results from phase one research in a series of six workshops across Australia’s major capital cities, with growers, local councils, town planners, developers and landscape architects, strongly encouraged to attend.

Attendees will also gain access to a suite of resources around the tree standard based on the current measurements, as well as new information, such as a ‘how to guide’ for customers.

During these consultations, growers, researchers and broader stakeholders are encouraged to review the findings and contribute to the update of a new or revised standard (should it be accepted), with the final report presented to the Australian Standards Committee.

The formal guide is expected to be released in early 2018 with the workshops commencing in March. Stay tuned for updates and tour dates

More information can be found at the NGIA website or watch the video below for a greater insight into the review.

News via the NGIA Levy. Image credited to Elke Karin Lugert.