Public Tree Inspection
Public Tree Inspection
If you're concerned about a public tree and believe it may need pruning or removal, you can request an inspection by City of Newcastle.
Our team will assess the tree to determine whether it poses a risk to public safety or nearby infrastructure. If the tree is healthy and structurally sound, we generally leave it undisturbed to support the local environment and preserve the urban canopy.
What we can do
- Pruning for pedestrian or vehicle clearance where it's not detrimental to the tree.
- Maintenance pruning to remove dead, diseased or dying branches.
- Selective pruning to provide adequate clearance to buildings.
- Root pruning to abate root interaction with principal infrastructure.
- Pruning for vehicle sight lines, road signage and Transport NSW requirements.
- Removal of damaged or diseased trees.
- Emergency works related to storms.
- Removal of trees interacting with principal infrastructure where all engineering solutions have been considered.
What we are not able to do
- Pruning of trees contrary to Australian Standard AS4373.
- Pruning for size reduction, provide visibility of commercial signage or to provide access to views.
- Pruning for occurrences such as the natural shedding of leaves, flowers, fruit, seed pods, bark or twigs, sap drop, bird or bat droppings.
- Pruning to prevent overshadowing or to provide solar access.
- Pruning of overhanging branches back to boundary or fence lines.
- Removal of trees interacting with non-structural built assets (e.g. garden pathways, fences).
- Removal of trees or the application of pesticide to control termites.
- Pruning or removal of trees that are claimed to be causing allergies.
- Removal of healthy, structurally sound trees.
- Removal and replacement of healthy trees due to resident's preference for an alternative species.
Trees and powerlines
Pruning of public trees around powerlines can only be undertaken by Ausgrid.
City of Newcastle is prohibited from entering the exclusion zone around powerlines. To request pruning of trees around powerlines please contact Ausgrid by submitting a request for pruning via their online form.
Property owners are responsible for keeping trees on their property safely clear from wires that connect to homes and property, including private mains. Only licensed contractors should trim trees around the electricity network.
Related articles
- Fallen Tree or Branch - report a public tree or branch has fallen and needs to be removed.
- Private Tree Removal - for information relating to the removal of private trees.
- Private Tree Enquiry - to find out about tree management on private land.
Raise a request
Before you begin
When lodging your request, you will have the option to attach photos or other supporting documents.
Location matters!
Providing specific details about the location of the tree helps us locate and address it quickly. Please include cross streets, house numbers, or identifying landmarks.
Next steps
- You'll receive an acknowledgement with your request number.
- We will review your request and arrange an inspection to assess whether the tree meets our maintenance criteria or requires intervention. Based on the findings, appropriate works will be scheduled. If the tree does not currently meet intervention thresholds, we will continue to monitor its condition to determine if future action is necessary.
- Once your request has been completed, you will receive a notification. Please note that the completion of your request may mean the work has been actioned, scheduled, or added to our future planning.
Time frames
- Tree inspections are usually carried out within 3 weeks, depending on workload and weather events.
- If a tree is found to pose an immediate risk to public safety or property, action will be taken as soon as possible to reduce the hazard.
- Pruning works, if required, are typically completed within 6 months of the inspection.
- Low-priority works such as maintenance on healthy, structurally sound trees may not be carried out until they meet our intervention criteria. This helps us focus resources on trees that present a risk or require urgent attention.
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