Holroyd City Council

What happens to trees on proposed development sites?

Prior to the preparation of a development application, Council recommends prospective applicants obtain advice on whether existing trees would be required to be retained and the setbacks to any future works necessary, as this may have a bearing on the design of the development.

Applications for advice, with the owner's approval, should be made on the General Tree Works Pre-Lodgement Advice Form.

The application form is to be accompanied by a plan, which accurately depicts and numbers the tree/s to be considered, and the required fee.

Currently, the fees for an application for pre-lodgement advice are as follows:

  • 1-5 trees $96.30
  • 6-10 trees $192.70
  • 11+ trees $287.60

New fees will apply from 1 July 2010.

Applications to have a tree assessed for removal prior to the submission of a development application are not granted approval. Instead advice is provided as to whether or not the tree should be retained with any future development and the setbacks required from the tree to any works. This enables an appropriate design to be developed which takes into account the trees required to be retained and the retention of trees until approval for building works to commence has been granted.

Once an application for development, ranging from a minor extension to a residential flat building, is proposed any trees likely to be affected by the works are evaluated in a similar manner to a general tree application, although often more detail in the form of an arborist's report is used.

Whenever possible trees deemed to be healthy and of good form are required to be retained with appropriate setbacks to any work stipulated. Quite often this involves a redesign of the proposal to provide for the retention of a tree.

Once a development has been approved, conditions to protect the tree/s, including the requirement to fence a protection zone and the imposition of substantial bonds during the course of construction are imposed and enforced.