We refer to Planning vs. Urban Forests .The Urban Forest Strategy  released by City of Melbourne to manage our tree population well into the future, is in process of dialogue with the public.  However, what happens ( more commonly it seems) when developers find trees inconveniently “get in the way” of their project? They approach Council to have them removed. This happened recently when Council set a “bounty'” of $250,000.00 for trees marked for removal and replacement at the (Myer)Emporium site in Lonsdale Street. We find a similar situation in Russell Street where, in the eyes of the public, 3 trees were heartlessly removed.We are pleased that the 14/02/2012 Future Melbourne Committee saw fit to investigate a policy proposal ..”to determine the circumstances under which CoM will allow alterations, removal or replacement of street trees as a consequence of construction activities..” Residents 3000 would like to see permit applications for Tree Removal included in the weekly planning applications sent to us.At least we might know what is going on…