• Home
• >
• Environment
• >
• Public tree management
• >
• Street tree pruning or removal

Street tree pruning or removal

Pruning Clearances. See Tree Management Guidelines pg 10.

Public tree pruning is undertaken to preserve the health of a tree and to ensure public safety. The removal of trees in streets, parks and reserves is necessary when a tree has reached or is approaching over-maturity and it poses a high risk of damage or personal injury to the community.

Pruning is an effective way to help manage urban trees and may be used in the following circumstances:

• Low branches near footpaths and roads
• Routine maintenance to remove defects such as dead branches, crossing branches.
• Canopy thinning within tree tolerances to allow for street lighting and solar access.
• Storm damage
• Sight lines clearances for signs and traffic lights

The shedding of leaves, fruit or flowers is not considered sufficient reason for excessive pruning or removal of a street tree.

Pruning is completed by qualified Council Officers and contractors, in reference to the clearance guidelines illustrated above.

The decision to remove a tree is based on whether the tree:

• Is dead, dying or in severe decline from natural causes
• is considered an unacceptable risk to people or property following a tree risk assessment
• Is considered an inappropriate species for a location
• Is considered to be a poor aboricultural specimen which contributes little amenity
• is of a species identified as a being the primary cause of inducing severe allergenic response
• Is listed on Council’s exempt species list

Notification process

Where substantial or prominent trees may need to be removed, Council policy is to notify adjacent residents two weeks prior scheduled removal.

The tree identified for removal is marked with appropriate high visibility tape and an accompanying sign explaining why the tree is being removed, the planned date of removal and the replacement tree species where possible.

Occasionally, trees need to be removed immediately for public safety reasons e.g., storm damage or if their condition becomes hazardous. Notification of adjacent residents of the reasons for emergency removal of street trees and the timing of planting a replacement tree will occur as soon as possible after removal.

Pruning by Ausgrid

Waverley Council’s electricity network is operated by wholesaler Ausgrid.

Pruning under electricity cables to the minimum clearances is authorised under Section 48 of the Electricity Supply Act 1995 and Electricity Supply (Safety and Network Management) Regulation 2014. Both acts effectively overrule council-originated Tree Preservation Orders or Development Control Plans and other environmental planning instruments, excluded are State heritage or protection orders.

Ausgrid have the accreditation for maintaining vegetation clearances from their assets within the Waverley LGA. If you would like to lodge a pruning request with Ausgrid, you can do so via their website. Council cannot intervene with Ausgrid tree pruning activity on street trees. Ausgrid publish their Vegetation Management Program online.