Tree Management
Hurstville City’s leafy environment is an important part of our local character. Trees play a vital role in our local ecosystem, attract visitors and property buyers to Hurstville City and protect us from the sun.
To preserve Hurstville City’s leafy character, Council has in place a Tree Preservation Order, aimed at retaining as many trees as possible within the area. This means that, by law, you need to lodge a development application with Council for consent to remove or prune a tree on public or private land.
When deciding whether or not a tree should be removed, Council will consider the application in light of the Tree Preservation Order.
Reasons for tree removal and pruning that are unlikely to receive approval include:
- enhancement of a view or outlook
- removal of shade. In the case that medical documentation is submitted stating tree shade is detrimental to a person’s health, selective crown thinning may be permitted
- leaf or twig fall
- minor damage to property, for example a driveway
- blocked pipes caused by tree roots
- presence of a healthy tree on vacant land, where no building work has been approved.
Lodging an application
To apply to remove a tree on public land:
- download and complete the Inspection Application for Trees on Council Controlled Land
- lodge your application at the Hurstville Civic Centre Customer Service Centre.
To apply to remove a tree on private land:
- read Council’s Tree Pruning and Removal Guidelines.
- download and complete the Development Application for Consent to Remove/Prune a Tree(s)
- lodge your application at the Hurstville Civic Centre Customer Service Centre. An application fee of $32 per application must also be paid upon lodgement. Senior citizens with a valid card, and schools (excluding child care centres) are exempt from fees.
Application approval/refusal
Once you have lodged your application a Tree Management Officer will inspect the tree and issue a letter of approval or refusal.
If the applicant is unhappy with the outcome, they can apply for a review within 12 months for 50 per cent of the original fee, by lodging a form called Development Application Review – Trees
The applicant also has the right to appeal to the Land and Environment Court within one year of the determination date.
Forms and guidelines
Inspection Application for Trees on Council Controlled Land (74.22kB) - trees on public land.
Development Application for Consent to Remove-Prune a Tree(s).pdf (117.92kB) - trees on private land.
Development Application Review - Tree(s).pdf (143.17kB) - following refusal of an initial application.
Tree Pruning and Removal Guidelines (147.34kB) - for trees on private land.