Council places a strong emphasis on protecting trees within the local government area. We have Tree Management Processes in place, which are designed to protect and enhance the urban tree canopy.

By law, you need to obtain a permit under State Environmental Planning Policy (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021 to remove or prune any tree on private land that is protected under Council’s Tree Management Policy. 

Only Council can remove or prune public trees.

Council regularly prosecutes offenders for activities that remove or damage trees without authority. The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 provides that the maximum offence in the Court is $1 million for an individual and $5 million for a corporation if the offence caused or was likely to cause significant harm to the environment.