The Soldiers Point Community Group (SPCG) says it was disappointing that councillors had voted in favour of amending the Development Control Plan to allow unqualified persons to determine whether or not a tree was considered dangerous.

"Surely in this time of crisis this is not the time to be adding to the decimation of the ecology upon which we are dependent for survival. Climate change is real and it is naive to think otherwise. Protection of our native vegetation and wildlife habitat is essential to our well being," said SPCG president Jean Armstrong.

The March 10 notice of motion from Cr Chris Doohan called for a 12-month moratorium on pre-approvals "to remove trees that are considered a risk to human life or property".

It was adopted despite a plea from Cr Giacomo Arnott for more time to process the proposal, and opposition from Cr John Nell who quoted: "The more trees you remove the more you change the climate."

The proposal is yet to go on public exhibition.

Ms Armstrong questioned the need for such a moratorium in light of the fact there had been no recent major emergencies like the April 2015 superstorm when a tree moratorium was first enacted.

"Judgement as to whether or not a tree is dangerous (by allowing removal without approval) would be on the say-so of landowners, without any professional input," Ms Armstrong said.

"In urban landscapes, many consider large and old eucalyptus trees a dangerous nuisance that drop limbs and leaves and occupy space that could be used for development, or to improve views.

"But when we remove these trees, some of which are many hundreds of years old, they and the benefit provided to the environment are effectively lost forever. Is this a risk we can afford?"

Cr Doohan said the 2015 superstorm was not the cause of the moratorium.

"The storm was merely the manifestation of the fear that many people felt every time the wind blew or the rain fell when they had widow maker trees within striking distance of their houses," he said.

"The superstorm clearly demonstrated that a tree did not have to be sick or dying to fall during a storm, a huge percentage of trees that fell were perfectly healthy specimens that were just unlucky enough to be in the path of the worst part of the storm. How no one was killed is just miraculous."

A council spokesperson said that should the amendment be supported, the DCP would enable tree or vegetation removal without approval from council where there was "a direct threat to human life or property and where council is provided with post tree removal notification within 10 days of removal".

"Council will continue to monitor tree removal in accordance with existing inspection regimes and council maintains a Tree Vandalism Policy with the primary aim to reduce the incidence of vandalism to public trees."

Ms Armstrong has urged all residents opposed to the moratorium to make their voices heard when the time comes for the proposal to be placed on public exhibition.

"We will campaign against it in due course on the basis that there are adequate provisions in the current policy to deal with dangerous trees. Future generations should not have to shoulder the consequences of the actions we take now."

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