Tree Preservation Order
Hurstville City Council’s Tree Preservation Order is aimed at retaining as many trees as possible in the area. In effect, it means that by law, a development application must be lodged with Council for consent to remove or prune a tree on public or private land.
The Order is effective under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
Trees covered by the Order
Council’s Tree Preservation Order applies to all trees growing in Hurstville City. It ensures trees are properly assessed before approval for removal or pruning is granted.
It also prohibits the ringbarking, lopping, topping, removal, injuring or destruction of any tree.
Council’s written consent is required before any of these trees can be pruned or removed, irrespective of size:
| Botanical Name |
Common Name |
| Acmena smithii |
Lilli Pilli |
| Angophora costata |
Sydney Red Gum |
| Angophora floribunda |
Rough-Barked Apple |
| Angophora bakeri |
Narrow-Leaved Apple |
| Allocasuarina torulosa |
Forest Oak |
| Banksia serrata |
Old Man Banksia |
| Ceratopetalum apetalum |
Coachwood |
| Ceratopetalum gummiferum |
NSW Christmas Bush |
| Corymbia gummifera |
Red Bloodwood |
| Corymbia maculata |
Spotted Gum |
| Eucalyptus capitellata |
Brown Stringybark |
| Eucalyptus fibrosa |
Broad-leaved Ironbark |
| Eucalyptus globoidea |
White Stringybark |
| Eucalyptus haemastoma |
Scribbly Gum |
| Eucalyptus longifolia |
Woollybutt |
| Eucalyptus paniculata |
Grey Ironbark |
| Eucalyptus pilularis |
Blackbutt |
| Eucalyptus piperita |
Sydney Peppermint |
| Eucalyptus resinifera |
Red Mahogany |
| Eucalyptus tereticornis |
Forest Red Gum |
| Glochidion ferdinandi |
Cheese Tree |
| Syncarpia glomulifera |
Turpentine |
Written consent is also required to prune or remove any tree which meets one or more of these criteria:
- it is three metres or more in height
- it has a circumference of 300 millimetres or more, measured at a height of 450 millimetres from the ground
- it has a branch spread of three metres or more.
Trees not covered by the Order
The Tree Preservation Order does not apply to any tree that is required to be trimmed in accordance with Clause 23 of the Electricity (Overhead Line Safety) Regulation 1991.
In addition, it does not apply to any commercial or domestic fruit tree except Macadamia integrifolia.
Council’s written consent is not required to prune or remove trees irrespective of size including:
| Botanical Name |
Common Name |
| Bambusa spp. |
Bamboo |
| Syagrus romanzoffianum |
Cocos Palm |
| Erythrina x sykesii |
Coral Tree |
| Ficus elastica |
Rubber Tree |
| Grevillea robusta |
Silky Oak |
| Nerium oleander |
Oleander |
| Populus nigra 'Italica' |
Lombardy Poplar |
| Salix babylonica |
Common Willow |
| Schefflera actinophylla |
Umbrella Tree |
| Ligustrum spp. |
Privet |
Further, it is permitted to remove or prune a tree when it can be demonstrated to Council that it is dying or dead or has become dangerous to properties or people. It can also be permissible to remove a tree when it can be proven that any actions taken were necessary to protect human life or property due to a bushfire burning in the vicinity.