One of the most common calls we get starts with someone assuming they can do whatever they like with a tree on their own property. Sometimes that is true. Often it is not, and finding out after the tree is on the ground is an expensive way to learn.
Protected trees are more common than people think
Both Brisbane City Council and Ipswich City Council protect certain trees and vegetation. Protection can come from the tree's size, its species, a vegetation protection order, an overlay on the property, or the tree being part of a development condition. You cannot always tell by looking, which is the trap.
The penalties for removing a protected tree without approval are not small, and they land on the property owner, not the contractor who did the cutting. So it is worth knowing before, not after.
Where an arborist report comes in
When a removal or significant pruning does need approval, the council usually wants an assessment from a suitably qualified arborist. In Queensland that generally means an AQF Level 5 qualified consulting arborist. The report sets out the condition of the tree, the risk it poses, and the arboricultural justification for the work.
This is where being both a qualified consultant and a working tree crew helps. We can assess the tree, write the report the council needs, and carry out the approved work, without you having to line up a consultant and a contractor separately.
Development sites are a different beast
If you are building or subdividing, the rules step up again. You are likely to need an arboricultural impact assessment and a tree protection plan, prepared to AS 4970, Protection of Trees on Development Sites. These have to satisfy the assessing planner, so they need to be done properly the first time.
The short version
Before you remove or heavily prune a mature tree in Brisbane or Ipswich, ask whether it is protected. If you are not sure, ask us. Checking costs nothing. Removing a protected tree without approval can cost a great deal.
Not sure about a tree on your place? Send a photo. There is no charge for an opinion. Brisbane Trees
