Professional & Affordable Tree Services
Maitland City Council
A charming town on the banks of the Hunter River
Maitland City Council Tree Removal
Where approval is required:
- All vegetation within a Heritage Conservation Area or vegetation on land that contains a Heritage Item
- All vegetation that forms part of a threatened ecological community or is recognised as ta hreatened plant species by a government authority.
- A tree which is required to be retained or planted as a condition of consent (Including approved landscape plans and trees which were required to be planted to replace a tree which was removed).
- All native vegetation (including understorey plants and ground covers) within a defined wetland, which is less than the biodiversity offsets scheme threshold identified under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016
- All other trees which are 3m or greater in height or has a diameter of 100mm or more at 1.3m above ground, and shrubs which are 5m or greater in height require consent for removal unless any one of the following applies:
- A tree or shrub may be removed without consent that is located within 3m to a principal building (excludes carports, garages, pergolas, fences and the like) Note: measured trunk to outer wall *.
- A tree which is used to grow fruit or nuts may be removed without consent. Trees which is dying or dead and not required as habitat for native animals may be removed without consent**.
- The tree or shrub is an exotic species which is considered to be an invasive species by the NSW Government may be removed without consent.
* – The onus of providing evidence, when requested by Council staff, is on the landowner. Landowners are encouraged to submit photos to the Council, for record-keeping purposes, showing before and after removal.
** – Council is to receive a tree removal notification 10 days prior to removal.
Report It request for Tree Maintenance-
VEGETATION CLEARING WITHIN RURAL ZONES
Removal of trees or clearing vegetation on land within RU1 Primary Production or RU2 Rural Landscape zones is administered through Local Land Services (Hunter). Council cannot issue approval for clearance on non-urban land. Local Land Services administers the removal of vegetation where clearing exceeds the Biodiversity Offset Scheme Threshold (BOST). Approval is required from the Native Vegetation Panel in this instance. Council cannot issue consent in these circumstances.
VEGETATION CLEARING WITHIN NON-RURAL ZONES
Council can issue development consent for the clearance of land, which is below the Biodiversity Offset Scheme Threshold (see Part 7.2 of the Biodiversity Conservation Regulation 2017). For clearance of land above the threshold, please contact the Council for further information.
Vegetation Clearing with Heritage Items
Development consent is also required for clearing any vegetation to which Clause 5.10 of the Maitland Local Environmental Plan 2011 applies.
-
Urgent Removals
With the exception of trees in Heritage Conservation Areas or vegetation on land which is a Heritage Item. Council consent is not required for the removal of trees in circumstances where there is a significant risk to risk to life or property where Council is provided with a Tree Removal Notification 10 days prior to removal. If a tree requires urgent removal on account of immediate failure it may be removed without consent provided that Council is provided with a Tree Removal Notification within 48 hours of removal.
Pruning Guidelines
- Pruning is permitted for up to 10% of the live canopy only.
- Removal of deadwood is allowed.
- All pruning work must comply with Australian Standards AS4373-2007 – Pruning of Amenity Trees.
- Branch Management will not top your trees, we will only prune back to where it has been previously pruned.
Bushfire Prone Areas
Under the NSW Rural Fire Service 10/50 Vegetation Clearing Scheme, property owners in designated bushfire-prone areas may remove certain trees within 10 meters of a home without council permission. You can check if this applies to your property here.
We’ve had the privilege to work with some wonderful local businesses
From Port Stephens to Newcastle and the Hunter we have worked with local businesses such as LJ Hooker, Port Stephens Council, Defence Housing Australia, Transfield and many more.
