“Mature trees can contribute significantly to an area’s character offering exceptional value visually, culturally, economically and intrinsically,” Councillor David Jones said in his explanation of the motion to Council at the Wednesday 19 March meeting.

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“To me this is more like a statement of recognition of the value of trees,” he said.

Bowraville-based agronomist Marc Percival spoke at Council’s public forum, arguing for the permits to be implemented, citing his experiences as a tree protection officer in North Sydney Council where such permits are required.

“We need to categorise trees so we can see which are the most valuable ones,” Mr Percival told the Council.

“It (a Tree Preservation Order) funds itself,” he said.

“There (would be) a bill attached,” he said.

In North Sydney, Tree Permits can be obtained at no cost to residents.

A ‘Tree Preservation Officer’ is employed to oversee the process, often visiting properties to investigate the circumstances of individual cases.

NOTA was informed that obtaining a Tree Permit in the North Sydney Council area generally takes around two weeks.

“Before removing, pruning or proposing a development within five metres of a tree, residents and contractors should contact us to determine whether they need to obtain a Tree Management Permit or Development Consent,” the North Sydney Council website states.

Trees with a crown of five metres and larger, a height of five metres and above as well as trees with a trunk diameter at ground level of 500mm or more are subject to council permission for removal or pruning.

Other than the removal of dead branches, most pruning of mature trees must be carried out by a licenced arborist to Australian Standard (AS) 4373-2007 and owners must apply to carry out development works according to AS4970-2009 in the vicinity of trees subject to preservation orders.

This does not apply to trees within one metre of established infrastructure.

All dead trees, provided they are not deemed habitat trees, can be removed but must be certified by a licensed arborist.

Currently trees on public property are not able to be removed or pruned without permission from relevant authorities.

Councillors discussed a range of issues regarding the permits and further discussion will be held once a report is prepared by staff and presented to Council at a later date.

Glen Gwilliams from Nambucca Valley Tree Services believes the changes would be a positive step for his industry.

“If a minimum qualification of Certificate 3 was required to do the (tree) work it would help stop the cowboys (ruthless operators),” he told NOTA.

“(Sometimes) unqualified people without insurance can underquote us on jobs,” he explained.

“It’s something that is commonplace on many councils down south and around Sydney.”

By Ned COWIE