Trees are Protected by Law
When working next to trees it is critical that the Australian Standard 4970-2009 ‘Protection of Trees on Development Sites’ is adhered to.
Any damage to Council street trees or regulated/significant trees on private property will result in the City of Unley taking relevant enforcement action which may lead to prosecution.
Speak with someone qualified
You should seek advice from a qualified arborist to determine the legal status of the tree/s, and to assess the possible impact your proposed development activities may have on such tree/s.
Request to remove trees on public land
Development approvals do not provide you with approvals to 'alter a public road(PDF, 313KB) in which street trees exist'.
If your development requires the removal of a Council street tree, you are required to lodge an application(PDF, 33KB) providing your development approval number and any other information you deem relevant.
Every application is assessed individually, and, not all applications will be granted permission for tree removal. Trees must not be removed, pruned or damaged before approval is granted.
Please be aware that alterations to public land (tree removal) will result in costs that you will be required to pay in full prior to Council undertaking any works.
These costs will include, but are not limited to labour, plants, replacement tree/s, stump removal/s and loss of amenity to the community.
Retain and Protect
The City of Unley is known for our green, leafy suburbs and our community value trees highly. All trees, whether public or private, contribute to our urban forest and play an important role in making our city attractive, healthy and liveable.
When determining requests, staff will apply Council’s Tree Policy, noting there is a priority to retain and protect existing trees wherever possible.
Please consider alternative options to tree removal. Effective tree management (i.e. pruning), monitoring or clever design can ensure a tree remains a valuable asset to be enjoyed for generations to come.