Woollahra & Randwick Council Regulations for Tree Removal
Trees make Sydney a beautiful place to live in.
However, they can also create health, safety, and spatial problems for residents.
Cutting and pruning is the only way to deal with trees that are causing trouble.
But this is not something you can do lightly.
At the very least, you need to be aware of all the relevant tree management laws and regulations in your local area.
Prices for tree removal application
Before pruning, chopping down, or removing a tree, you need to get approval from your local council.
Approval costs vary from one council to another.
Woollahra Municipal Council
- Non-refundable processing fee per tree: $77.50
- For each additional tree, the fee per tree is $28.50.
Randwick City Council
- Tree removal application fee for one tree: $76
- For each additional tree, the cost per tree is $28.
Other councils apply different fees.
How to identify protected trees
Throughout Woollahra and Randwick, the following trees are protected by law from pruning and removal:
- Trees on public property
- Significant trees – For a list of significant trees in Woollahra, you can consult the 4-volume Significant Tree Register on the Woollahra Municipal Council website. For a list of significant trees in Randwick, go to the Significant Tree Register on the Randwick City Council website.
- Heritage trees -Both Woollahra Municipal Council and Randwick City Council can provide you with a list of Heritage Trees in your area.
You will need to apply for development consent if you want to carry out major pruning or removal of heritage or significant tree.
What can you prune or remove without Council approval?
In Woollahra and Randwick, you do not need Council approval to prune or remove:
- Dead or dying trees
- Trees that pose a risk to human life or property
- Trees that are growing too close (within 2 meters) to any building
- Trees that require pruning in accordance with the Electricity Supply Act 1995
For more information about exemptions in the Woollahra area, go to the Tree Management DCP.
You can find a full list of exemptions in the Randwick Council here.
Species that can be removed without permission
Trees classified as noxious can be pruned or removed without council approval. Some common examples of noxious species are:
- Ailanthus altissima (Tree of Heaven)
- Cotoneaster species (Cotoneaster)
- Erythrina species (Coral tree)
- Ficus elastica (Rubber tree)
- Ligustrum species (Privet)
- Nerium oleander (Oleander)
- Schefflera actinophylla (Umbrella tree)
- Syagrus romanzoffianum (Cocos Palm)
- Populus species (Poplars)
- Salix species (Willows)
Check with Woollahra Municipal Council or Randwick City Council for a full list of species that can be removed without council approval.
Council Regulations for Tree Removal: Make sure you get reliable information
Pruning or removing a tree in Woollahra and Randwick is a tricky business.
It’s vitally important that you are aware of all of the local regulations.
Get in touch with your local council if you have any doubts or uncertainties.
In the meantime, you can find more information about tree removal in Woollahra, Randwick, and other Sydney locations on the Wolf Trees and Gardens website.
