Trees and Development

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The City of Unley is loved for its green, leafy streets. We are proud to be recognised as a Tree City of the World.

Trees don’t just make our neighbourhoods beautiful and provide us with a sense of place, they make our homes and streets cooler and add to community health and wellbeing. Trees benefit your home by:

  • Providing privacy
  • Offering summer shade and cooling
  • Attracting local birds and wildlife
  • Screening unsightly views
  • Buffering noise
  • Providing fruit, seasonal colour and fragrance.

Unley has a goal of 31% tree canopy cover by 2045. But with 80% of land privately owned, we need everyone to work together to keep Unley leafy, now and for future generations.

Every tree counts. Every home helps.

Planning a Development? Plan for Trees.

Development can impact trees, but simple, early decisions can protect and grow our canopy.

Love the Trees You Already Have

Before you put pen to paper on your design, think about what your existing trees already give you.

Protect mature trees by designing around them and continue enjoying these benefits, without waiting years for new trees to grow.

See the important role your existing trees play in cooling your street and shaping neighbourhood character by visiting visit our award-winning My Canopy website.

If Trees Can’t Stay, Plan & Plant for the Future

If retaining all existing trees isn’t possible, plan early to ensure trees are included into the design process and design your development so new trees have the space, soil and sunlight they need to grow.

Plant as soon as possible to kickstart canopy recovery.

 

Tools to Help You Design With Trees

Design Advice: Adelaide Garden Guide for New Homes.

A Guide to Trees & Gardening in Unley: our website includes 31 factsheets for trees known to grow well in Unley and a guide to planting to help with ideas on local native plants, garden design and where to buy plants.

Plant Selection Tool: search for the right plant by adding your criteria (e.g. height, colour, flowers, shape) to the Adelaide Botanic Garden’s Plant Selector Tool. 

Native Plants & Wildlife Gardening: find everything you need to know at Green Adelaide’s Gardening Hub.

 

Know Your Legal Responsibilities

Regulated & Significant Trees

All publicly and privately owned Regulated or Significant trees (any tree with a circumference of one metre or more) require protection under State legislation. For more information on trees protected by law, including any exemptions, please visit Plan SA’s website.

Council Trees

All Council trees, including street trees, are protected under the Local Government Act 1999. They must not be impacted by any construction works. This includes tree roots which must be protected with conducting any works such as driveways, paths, verges or fences. Contact Council on 8372 5111 for advice before planning works.


Property owners and all workers on site are responsible for protecting both Council and legally protected private trees throughout development.

Proposed Tree Canopy Offset Incentive Scheme

  • The City of Unley intends to introduce a Tree Canopy Offset Incentive Scheme to encourage the retention and planting of trees on private land to help the city reach its 31% tree canopy target by 2045.
  • The Scheme would apply to developments that increase the built footprint and result in less than 15% tree canopy cover after construction.
  •  The Scheme cannot proceed without approval from the Minister for Planning. Council is seeking approval for a 10-year trial, with formal reviews at Years 5 and 10.
  • If the Scheme is approved by the Minister for Planning, all new developments that increase the built footprint would be required to either:
    • Maintain or achieve a minimum of 15 per cent tree canopy cover on-site, or
    • Pay a fee equivalent to an additional 10 per cent in rates until that target is met.
  •  Any funds collected would be reinvested locally, through a dedicated fund to purchase land for tree planting and canopy restoration within Unley.
  • The objective of the Scheme is to change behaviour. Properties that retain or re-establish sufficient tree canopy post-construction will not pay a fee.
  • This scheme is one of the many initiatives Council delivers to support tree canopy growth in the City of Unley.

More detailed information about the proposed Scheme is available in the January 2026 Council Report.

 

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