Holroyd City Council

What works are exempt from the Tree Management Order?

Dead Trees

Removing dead trees does not require approval under the Tree Management Order. Residents should make certain that any tree removed is not deciduous (looses leaves at certain times of year - usually winter) or is not suffering temporary symptoms from which it may recover. It is also advisable to notify Council of the works as such notification is a record that this Order does not apply.

Note: A dead tree is one that has experienced leaf loss, for example has not produced leaves for two successive years; exhibits permanent wilting (i.e., is unable to take up water); or that is shedding bark which is dried out and peeling off to the beginning of sapwood.

Maintenance Pruning

In order to encourage good tree management practices the following works are exempt from the Tree Management Order, when they are carried out in accordance with the guidelines set out in Australian Standard AS 4373 -1996 Pruning of Amenity Trees:

  • Pruning of dead wood or dead palm fronds, and vegetation overhanging pedestrian walkways to a height of 2.4m above the walkway.
  • Pruning work specifically for the purpose of improving a tree's health; such as the removal of dead, diseased, dying, defective (torn, damaged, split or hanging) and conflicting branches as specified under Crown Maintenance, Clause 8.1 General (G) of the Australian Standard, provided this is carried out by an arborist qualified to at least Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Certificate Level 3.
  • Other pruning works such as those listed below are not exempt and application is required for Council to assess the works intended:
    • thinning out a tree's canopy (Clause 8.2 General (G) of the Australian Standard AS4373)
    • removing a specific overhanging branch (Clause 8.4 General (G) of the Australian Standard AS 4373)
    • reducing a tree's vigour, spread or its height (Clause 9.1 of the Australian Standard As 4373)

The intention of this exemption is to permit a qualified tradesperson who knows and understands AS 4373 (The Australian Pruning Standard) to carry out work to maintain or improve a tree's health in specific circumstances, without unnecessary additional application cost or processing delay.

This exemption does not apply to pruning designed to remove a specific overhanging branch, thin a tree's canopy or reduce the vigour, spread or height of a tree.