Trees and Development
All developments should be designed to enable the preservation, and the long-term viability of trees categorised as having a high or medium retention value. The protection of trees on development sites must be planned and managed from the beginning and throughout the design and construction process. Significant trees, healthy mature trees and high and medium retention value trees are to be considered as a constraint and every intention to be demonstrated to try and retain them as part of a proposed development.
On this page you will find:
Planning for Tree Protection
Development should be designed and coordinated with all parties involved to avoid or minimise potential conflict between trees and proposed structures.
The future growth of trees (both above and below ground) must be considered early on when proposing to build or install something close to a tree.
When planning a development, the following must be taken into consideration:
- Opportunities to retain existing trees within the development site and road reserve (Particularly semi-mature and mature trees)
- Precautions must be undertaken to minimise impacts to existing trees located within adjoining properties.
- Potential development impacts must be given to all trees located within adjoining properties where located within 3m of the common boundary.
- Design modifications may need to be factored in to minimise the damage or encroachment, because once a tree or root system is damaged it cannot be fixed or reverted. Often damage to a tree is not noticed for many months after it has occurred, which may lead to the slow decline and failure of a tree which is to be avoided.
Design Modifications to Retain a Tree
Council may not always support removal of certain trees if it is reasoned they could be retained through minor design modifications.
As part of the development application process Council may request design modifications or alternative design options are explored to ensure certain trees can be retained as part of the development, such as:
- Modifying the building footprint slightly to be outside the Tree Protection Zone (TPZ);
- Relocating retaining walls and/or
- Modifying the extent of the proposed hard surfaces.
Design modification to facilitate tree retention should be provided, preferably in coordination with a Consulting Arborist who is experienced in the construction process and non-destructive construction modifications and can provide guidance on how to minimise the impacts to the tree(s) under the provisions of Australian Standard 4970 – 2025 Protection of trees on development sites.
Tree Sensitive Construction Techniques
Sometimes using traditional construction techniques may be detrimental to a tree, but by modifying the way some things are built, such as using non-destructive or sensitive construction techniques, it might be all that is required to enable a tree to be successfully retained. These include (but are not limited to):
- Pier and beam footings to retain the major roots;
- Localised pier footings;
- Suspended slabs over the tree root zone;
- Installation of pipes using hydro-vac or careful hand-digging for example to retain the major roots, and thread the pipes in between;
- Cantilevered building sections over the tree root zone;
- Contiguous piling.
Arborist Report Requirements
If there are any trees on the site, any affected tree within 3-5m of the neighbouring property or any street trees located within the road verge then Council may request an Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA) Report and Tree Protection Plan (TPP) to be submitted to support a development application. A consulting arborist can provide you with a written technical report detailing tree retention, removal, minimising impacts and protection and management options for the trees within your site and adjacent to the site.
- To ensure the Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA) report is relevant and site specific they must be provided with all the relevant and most current documentation including but not limited to the site plan, stormwater plan, landscape plan, basement plans and elevation drawings.
- The Consulting Arborist will arrange to undertake a ground-based visual inspection of the tree(s) within the site and adjoining the site and provide expert advice on their health and condition and ways to minimise impacting the trees during the development process.
- The project arborist shall identify any development constraints imposed by the trees and provide recommendations for an appropriate developable area given these constraints.
- A proposed development which will result in a negative impact to trees or vegetation located within adjoining properties may not be supported.
- The report must evaluate all proposed construction impact on the trees proposed to be retained and justify any trees proposed to be removed to facilitate the development.
To ensure the Arboricultural report is accepted by Council and considered as part of your Tree Application, the report must be written in accordance with Councils Guidelines for Preparing an Arborist Report(PDF, 730KB).
Arborist Qualification Requirements
Technical tree reports and plans must be prepared by a qualified Consulting Arborist who has a Diploma of Arboriculture - Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level 5. Reports prepared by an arborist who does not hold the relevant qualifications or reports that do not include the minimum information as specified in this Section will not be accepted.
City of Parramatta Council does not provide recommendations for Arboricultural Consultants to advice or reports on trees. Should you wish to seek advice on your trees, it is advised you contact a Consulting Arborist with appropriate qualifications and demonstrated competence in providing the advice or service you require. Refer to the Institute of Australian Consulting Arboriculturists (IACA) website to find a consulting arborist.
It is advised you provide a copy of the Arboricultural Report Guideline to your arborist prior to them producing their report.
For more Information
If you have any questions you can get in touch with our Customer Service Centre Team on (02) 9806 5050 or at council@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au.