Monday 28 October 2013

Protected Trees: When Should I Call A Professional Arborist

There is that tree in your yard that is ugly and unsightly in your eyes and has been for some time now, but you are unsure what to do about it, or even whether there is anything you can to do about it because it is a protected tree. Perhaps the easiest solution is to call a tree removal professional that may be able to offer you a free tree removal quote and will be able to assess the potential problems, if any, that that particular tree may pose. 

Before you get in touch with a tree removal professional you may wish to consider a few distinctive signs that trees will display when it is undesirable in that particular position.

The first thing to do is to determine whether that species of tree is desirable on your property. The Brisbane Council may have issued a VPO or Vegetation Protection Order if the vegetation in that area requires protecting or is of high native value or is part of the NALL (National Asset Local Law 2003), which was introduced to protect vegetation for a variety of reasons through Queensland. The Brisbane City Council website has a list of all protected species and also of undesirable species. You can easily identify the species using these resources. You will know if your property is covered under this legislation if it is on or near Brisbane River, is located in bushland or a rural locality, if your property contains large trees, even if it is in a heavily urbanised area, or if the property is heritage listed.

Should you find that the tree is protected there are still some things that you can do about the appearance of that tree without having to go to the trouble and expense of contacting a tree removal professional.

Significant Landscape Tree.


Should the tree on your property have been declared a quintessential example of that species there may be very little that you can do about the tree without permission, except prune the tree, and even then you may only prune up to 20% of the total canopy away within a 12 month period and the tree must not be left lopsided. If a protected tree has been badly damaged during a storm for example, and has been left listing badly to one side and poses a threat to the inhabitants of the property then you may be able to have that tree removed with out special permission. But care should be taken that the protected tree is truly a danger, and you should gather supporting evidence to support your decision. Generally a quote from a profession tree remover will suffice.

If the tree is within 3 metres of your home and the trunk of the tree is wholly within that boundary, and you feel that the tree is a threat to the well being of you, your family or the asset of your family home, you are well within your rights to approach the Brisbane City Council, or your local municipality to apply to have the tree removed.
Should you be unsure about any of these decisions then be sure to contact a tree removal professional and the local council to clear up any misunderstandings.
For any Questions about Tree Removal In Brisbane or tree pruning Brisbane click here.