Pruning & Removal Reports

Pruning and Removal

Tree Removal and Removal Reports

Most Councils require you to have a permit before removing and sometimes even pruning any tree. These Councils will often specify the limits of any permitted work. Still, you are not obligated to prune to the limits or even remove a tree you have a permit to remove. One of our consulting arborists can best advise you on what work is appropriate.

As a general rule, you need the Council’s consent to remove a tree (sometimes even a dead tree). Whilst there are exemptions, these exemptions vary from Council to Council. Therefore, you must check your Council’s Tree Preservation Order before removing any tree.

Hefty fines in excess of $1 million may apply if you breach a Tree Preservation Order. It is essential that you check with your Council and ensure that you have any appropriate permit/s prior to commencing any work.

Council Reports

If Council consent is required, you will need to fill in the relevant application forms. Councils can require an arborist report to support an application to prune or remove trees on private property.

If an arborist report is required or preferred, we can arrange for an arborist who has minimum AQF Level 5 qualifications to attend the site, assess the tree/s and prepare the required documentation.

If the Council approves, they will issue you with a permit or letter of consent. This document must be on site when the work is being performed. Your Council does have the right to refuse any application, and you have the right to appeal any refusal.

What Our Clients Say

"Mark Hartley is the best practical arborist in Australia. In order to achieve a positive result for our DA Mark literally was in the trenches and covered in dirt to ensure that critical trees were accurately assessed, their roots mapped and their prospects of survival methodically estimated. With his passion for trees and his ability to challenge outdated standards and norms we successfully achieved a result far beyond our expectations."

"I found Mark and his network of tree specialists (David) to be extremely knowledgeable and helpful - I approached Mark with an issue and asked for advice, the response was immediate and the experience was very positive. Mark and the Arborist Network offered sound advice, helped me address the issue and at all times they were very professional. I would recommend Mark and the Arborist Network to anybody who needs help with a tree."

"Mark is helpful, knowledgeable and extremely speedy in his advice. He was able to diagnose tree issues remotely (down to the presence and challenges from our local possum population!)"

"It is so good to have an arborist who is sincerely interested in helping me nurse a sick tree back to health rather than just advising to cut it down. With Mark's help we have managed to ensure our wonderful gum tree will stay standing for a long time to come. Thank you."

"To Dear Jessica & Mark, Thank you for all your Kindness and support" (Report for Land & Environment Court)

"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Mark Hartley and the team at the Arborist Network for all the help we have had in our attempts to retain the Laman Street trees in Newcastle. Mr Hartley has set such a wonderful example: an arborist who delivers a service that is prompt, intelligent, honourable and reliable. His dedication to education, accountability and transparency have been outstanding. When Mr Hartley was recommended to our group, our local Council had already voted to remove an avenue of 80 year old Hill's figs. Many (I like to think most) people in the community were appalled by this decision, especially since they had withstood a major, very destructive storm in 2007. We had made attempts early in the campaign to find an arborist to assess the trees, without success, and when Mr Hartley first looked at the street, 14 Hill's figs were effectively doomed. This was in spite of the widespread belief in Newcastle that the trees were healthy and had decades left in them. We've been impressed throughout our whole association with him that he has been impossible to intimidate. Contrary opinions on tree health or risk assessment have informed his approach to the issue but have not fazed him. He has always appeared to examine these with an open mind. He has been available to explain his findings to our group and to the media as often as necessary and in plain language that non-experts can easily understand. He has dealt with controversy without flinching and has withstood impressively the unwarranted personal criticism that comes with disagreeing with politicians and bureaucrats. While we benefited greatly from his expertise, I suspect the experience of examining this issue has been quite negative for Mr Hartley, given the controversy generated by those who wanted to remove the trees. In spite of this he has not hesitated at any time to complete the work he set out to do. Without the tree assessment and peer review he carried out for us, the Laman Street fig trees would have been removed many months ago. I really cannot thank the Arborist Network enough and believe we were very fortunate to have an expert with Mr Hartley's background to help us."

Pruning & Removal Reports

Pruning and Removal

Tree Removal and Removal Reports

Council Reports

What Our Clients Say

The Australian College of Arboriculture

(as licensee of Arborist Network)

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