Discovering that you can’t remove or trim trees that are on your property can be quite a shock. You might be frustrated and disappointed, but there are some excellent reasons for tree protection laws in New South Wales.
As an arborist offering localtree removal services, we encounter these laws very regularly, and we can provide some insight you might not have otherwise.
What Do Arborists Do?
Arborists are also sometimes called tree surgeons. They are trained professionals who work in the field of tree maintenance. This includes everything from planting new trees to diagnosing problems with trees to sometimes cutting and removing trees.
As such, we work very closely with tree protection laws pretty much every day and have in-depth knowledge and experience in this area.
Why Are Trees Protected in NSW?
Tree protection laws were introduced to ensure that people weren’t removing trees that were important for environmental and other reasons.
Without these laws, anyone would be free to remove any tree they like, without any thought to the consequences to the environment, the historical importance of the tree, or whether it is serving a particular function.
Unfortunately, these laws were made necessary because people were removing important trees for less than crucial reasons, like limiting the leaves in their pool. In order to protect the environment of NSW for all of us, laws were introduced to curb this.
How Do You Know What Trees Are Protected?
Unfortunately, the tree protection laws in NSW are quite complex and can vary slightly depending on where you live and even what the topography of your property is.
The process usually starts with a call to a local tree removal specialist and then to your local council, who will send someone out to review the trees you want to remove and discuss your options.
Sometimes, you will also have to make your case for wanting to remove a particular tree or trees. Permission is not automatically granted, and you won’t be able to remove any trees that aren’t authorized by your council.
Does This Only Apply to Tree Removal?
Many people incorrectly think that the tree protection laws in NSW only apply to tree removals. But they actually also cover modifying trees, including pruning them and cutting them back.
There are also rules about how trees can be removed, even if you are given permission. So there are lots of opportunities to make a misstep if you’re not careful!
Work with a Professional
As arborists, our best advice to anyone who wants to do anything to the trees on their property is to work with a professional. They will be able to tell you who to contact for permits and inspections and can help you to make your case if a tree is causing damage to something on your property or for similar reasons.
They can also safely undertake the trimming and removal process so that there’s no risk to any people or property during the tree removal process. It’s safe to say that removing a tree in NSW is a lot more complex than gassing up the chainsaw, and it’s always wise to have someone in the know on your team.