Trees and development work

When any development work is undertaken on a property there is a potential for trees to be adversely affected. Trees on private property, either on the site subject to the development or on adjoining properties, as well as street trees need to be considered when assessing a Development Application.

To carry out this assessment, Council will require the submission of specific plans, drawings or other information with the Development Application. This information may take the form of specific plans or reports completed by appropriately qualified professionals.

The format of the information required varies according to the type of works being proposed. Council’s DA Guide(PDF, 1MB) along with Attachment 4(PDF, 181KB) assists residents and applicants in preparing the necessary documents for submission of a Development Application. Detailed information about the format, content and who should be producing the information is contained in the DA Guide.

All applicants AND owners should read the DA Guide and prepare information in accordance with the listed requirements. The following is a ‘quick reference’ to the sections in the DA Guide and Attachment 4 relating to trees and development works;

PLANS, DRAWINGS AND OTHER INFORMATION	PAGE NO.	WHEN REQUIRED
Statement of Environmental Effects	Pg. 27	All applications.
Survey Plan	Pg. 4 and 11	New buildings, alterations and additions to buildings, swimming pools, subdivisions, boundary adjustments and excavation work.
Landscape Plans	Pg. 4 and 11	New buildings and where applications will impact upon existing landscapes, eg. Where trees, subject to the Tree Preservation Order, are located within 5 meters of proposed works. Unless previously agreed to by Council, concept plans will not be accepted.
Tree Report – Arboricultural Assessment Report	Pg. 6 and Annexure 8, pg. 1	Where trees or vegetation that are visible from another property, and protected by the Tree Preservation Order, are proposed to be removed or development will be sited within 5 meters of such trees.
Tree Report – Construction Impact Statement	Pg. 6 and Annexure 8, pg. 2	When any proposed construction work falls within the calculated Tree Protection Zone of a tree subject to the Tree Preservation Order. May be required by Council following preliminary assessment of an application.
Tree Report – Tree Management Report	Pg. 6 and Annexure 8, pg. 3	On sites where residential flat buildings are proposed, where there is restricted access to the site eg. Battle axe blocks, or where large scale (multi-use/multi building) development is proposed. May be required by Council following preliminary assessment of an application.
Tree Report – Root Mapping Report	Pg. 6 and Annexure 8, pg. 4	May be required by Council following preliminary assessment of an application.
Tree Report – Transplant Method Statement	Pg. 6 and Annexure 8, pg. 5	Where any tree, subject to the Tree Preservation Order, is proposed to be transplanted on the site.