WATCA - WA Tree Canopy Advocates

12/10/2026

Excuse the Squinty McSquint Face - there wasn’t a tree to to be seen…

Land developers are clearing every piece of greenery from new estates, leaving up to 98 per cent of each new suburb comprising hot, barren and treeless streets.

Read in comments.

09/10/2026

🪓Canopy Cranks live among us. They’re frightened of MESS! LEAVES! BIRD POO! 🐦

They (incorrectly) believe that tree protections designed to benefit the whole community will erode THEIR PROPERTY RIGHTS! 🤬

They start their complaints with “I like trees but…” and then incite baseless hysteria, shouting about SOCIALISM! 👿

🚨NEWSFLASH - Perth and other WA cities are in Canopy Crisis with the lowest levels in Australia. 80% of trees are lost on private land. Tree Policies are working in 12 LGAs.

Dear Cranks - let’s think beyond ourselves. It ain’t getting any cooler.🥵 Let’s consider the kind of future we want for our kids and grand kids. 🌳💚🌳💚🌳

07/09/2026

Move over, Rolex.🌳 Want to add value to your property? 💰

KEEP THE TREE.

Shade. Privacy. Beauty. Cooler homes. Greener neighbourhoods.

Big trees are the ultimate flex.💪🌳🏡💚

29/08/2026

💩We used to leave dog poo on the footpath. Throw rubbish out car windows. Leave our sprinklers on.

Used to be OK. Now it's not.

So why is it OK to cut down mature trees because they drop leaves, block a view, get in the way or simply because we can? 🪓

🌳It's time we grew out of that too.

What else used to be “normal” that isn’t anymore?

26/08/2026

🌳Last night Town of Claremont became the 12th Perth council to protect trees on private land. Each council has consulted its community and each time the answer is YES. Is your council on the list? If not, ask them why. Spread the word. We’re here to help. 💚💪🌳

24/08/2026

WA has the lowest tree canopy in Australia. Time to protect our mature trees. Statewide.🌳

21/08/2026

Why is WA full of Canopy Cranks?🪓Perth has the worst tree canopy in Australia, but we’re considering chopping a healthy 9m verge tree because somebody 50m away is annoyed by its leaves?! Trees drop leaves.🍃 People own rakes. Stop the madness! 🌳🌳

10/08/2026

🌳More than one third of Perth metro councils are now protecting trees. Is YOUR neighbourhood protected by a local tree policy?

06/08/2026

They planted them.🌱Then dug them up.🪏

Yes, really. In the city with the lowest tree canopy in Australia.🥵

Why were 7 young Norfolk Island pines planted and then removed from Marine Parade?

👀Because some nearby residents objected, saying the trees would block their views. Meet the self-appointed Custodians of the View.

🌊Marine Parade is one of WA's most beloved public spaces. Thousands of people walk, swim, cycle, picnic and enjoy it every week. If there's anywhere we should be planting more trees to provide shade and reduce heat, surely it's here.🌲

⚠️Town of Cottesloe is now is asking everyone what they think (great idea Cott😊).

🌲If you support more trees on Marine Parade, please do the quick survey.

👉 Survey link in comments.

31/07/2026

📣Q: Why are some of WA's most signiticant trees still relying on community campaigns to survive?
🪓A: Because WA's planning system still doesn't recognise the value of mature trees.

🌳Stuart the Tuart is a magnificent 200+ year old tuart in Claremont currently being assessed by the National Trust WA for inclusion on its Register of Significant Trees.
🌳The Old Auction Tree in Guildford is a 200+ year old flooded gum already listed by the National Trust WA. It is believed to have been an important Noongar gathering tree and has strong historical associations with Guildford's historic sale yards.

‼️Both are under threat. Neither is protected by a Local Planning Policy.

Recent SAT decisions have confirmed that the removal of a significant mature tree (like these) can constitute development requiring planning approval. Yet too many councils still have no planning framework to identify and protect significant trees before they come under threat.

⚠️Protecting mature trees shouldn't depend on community campaigns.
It's time our planning laws recognised their value and mandated meaningful tree protections across WA.