Tree Management, in the Georges River Local Government Area (LGA) is governed by the Georges River Development Control Plan (GRDCP) 2021. It sets out permissibility and requirements when undertaking tree works within the Georges River LGA.

When planning to undertake tree work it is advised to first check if the work requires a permit from council or if the proposed work is exempt. Exempt works and exempt tree species are outlined within the Tree Management Policy. Failure to obtain appropriate consent, or a permit for tree works where it is required to do so, may be an offence against the State Environmental Planning Policy (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021 and Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

Only Council can remove or prune public trees.

If trees on the nature strip need pruning or removal, please lodge a service request.
 

How to apply for a tree permit for private tree works

If you are required to obtain a permit, please follow the below steps:

1. Complete Council's Application to Prune or Remove Tree(s) on Private property.

2. Lodge your application at a Customer Service Centre. An application fee must also be paid upon lodgement.

Tree permit applications are made pursuant to provisions of State Environmental Planning Policy (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021.

Before your application is approved, please be aware:

• For pruning of a neighbouring tree, a direct neighbour can apply for pruning. However, Council cannot grant permission for access to the property as only the owner or their authorised agent can grant permission for access. They do not need the tree owner’s permission for a pruning application as long as pruning works do not go beyond the boundary.

• A neighbour cannot apply to remove a neighbouring tree, only the owner or their authorised agent can apply.

• For a heritage listed item, tree removal needs to be assessed and approved through a Development Application (DA).

• For a heritage listed item, tree pruning can be assessed and approved though a tree permit application.

• For a property within a conservation area, both removal and pruning can be assessed and approved though a tree permit application.

• For a tree that has development condition imposed the applicant will need to submit a modification of consent.

• An appropriately qualified and delegated council officer will inspect the site and undertake a Visual Tree Assessment. Following the site inspection, a written permit will be sent to the applicant advising them of the outcome and what tree work has been approved.

• Specific conditions will be detailed within the permit.

Penalties

If persons are found to have breached the State Environmental Planning Policy (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021 or the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1979 (NSW) the following penalties apply:

Penalties range from $1,500 for an individual to $6,000 for a corporation in the form of a Penalty Notice up to a maximum of $5 million for an offence against the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (if the offence caused or was likely to cause significant harm to the environment). 
 

Undesirable Species in Georges River Council

Common Name	Botanical Name
Bamboo	Bambusa spp
Black Locust	Robinia pseudoacacia
Black Mulberry	Morus nigra
Camphor Laurel (with height < 6m)	Cinnamomum camphora
Canary Island Date Palm (with height < 6m)	Phoenix canariensis
Chinese Hackberry (with height < 6m)	Celtis sinensis
Cocos Palm	Syagrus romanzoffianum
Common Willow	Salix babylonica
Contoneaster	Contoneaster spp.
Cootamundra Wattle	Acacia baileyana
Coral Tree Cockspur Coral Tree	Erythrina x sykesii Erythrina crista-galli
Hibiscus, excluding: - Native Rosella - Cottonwood Hibiscus	Hibiscus spp, excluding: - Hibiscus heterophyllus - Hibiscus tiliaceus
Honey Locust	Gleditsia triacanthos
Norfolk Island Hibiscus	Lagunaria patersonii
Lombardy Poplar	Populus nigra 'Italica'
Oleander	Nerium oleander
Privet – broad leaf	Ligustrum lucidum
Privet – narrow leaf	Ligustrum sinense
Running bamboo	Phyllostachys spp
Rhus tree	Toxicodendron spp
Rubber Tree	Ficus elastica
Silky Oak (with height < 6m)	Grevillea robusta
Tree of Heaven	Ailanthus altissima
Umbrella Tree	Schefflera actinophylla
Wild Olive/African Olive	Olea europaea subsp cuspidata

If you wish to notify us of a tree on Council land which requires pruning, please submit a service request via our Contact Us page.

Read more about tree management in Georges River by viewing our Georges River Development Control Plan (GRDCP) 2021.