Here you'll find answers to common questions about pruning, planting, and managing public trees.
During or after severe weather, trees can fail and fall. If a tree falls onto your property, no matter whose land it came from, the first priority is safety.
Here's what to do:
- Call NSW SES on 132 500 for emergency help. For life-threatening emergencies, call Triple Zero (000).
- Contact your insurer as soon as possible. They will guide you through the claims process and arrange tree removal if needed.
Why? Insurance covers damage and removal costs. If you organise work before speaking to your insurer, it could affect your claim.
Council will remove any part of the tree that is on public land once it is safe. Council is responsible for public land, but your insurer manages damage and removal on private property.
No. Powerline maintenance and clearing are Ausgrid's responsibility. Working near powerlines is dangerous and requires a specialist crew and equipment. Ausgrid owns and manages the electrical network.
Visit Ausgrid's website below for more information.
No. You should not prune or remove a public tree yourself. Council is responsible for all public tree maintenance.
Unapproved work can damage trees, create safety risks and may be illegal. Qualified arborists assess trees to keep them healthy and manage risk for the community.
What to do:
If you think a tree needs work, contact Council on 02 9392 5000 or council@innerwest.nsw.gov.au and an arborist will inspect and determine if any work is required.
We aim to replace removed public trees. Sometimes we can't replant in the same spot due to safety, accessibility or underground services.
New trees need space to grow and we must keep footpaths safe and accessible for everyone. Past planting decisions didn't always account for long-term needs. Narrow verges, utilities and hard surfaces can make the original location unsuitable.
What to expect:
Planting program planning and ordering of quality tree stock occurs from May to September each year. We only use quality tree stock and run the planting program from September to April each year to ensure a quality outcome.
We assess space, footpath width, above/below ground services, building offsets, soil and climate to identify the best location. We then choose suitable species for the space from Council's Street Tree Selection Manual.
The right species for the space reduces conflicts with infrastructure, keeps footpaths accessible and supports a sustainable healthy tree population.
What to expect:
Approved sites and species are added to the annual planting program by 30 April each year and then planted in the following September of that year through to May the following year.
Council maintains all newly planted trees through an intensive establishment program. Early quality care is essential for young trees to survive and establish.
What we do:
Scheduled watering, mulching, fertilising and weeding. Pruning is generally not undertaken for the first two years and is gradually introduced to avoid compromising the tree.
Yes, you can water it, especially in summer. Consistent watering over summer helps the tree survive and establish.
What Council does:
Council manages all other maintenance in line with Industry Best Practice and Australian Standards, so the tree remains healthy and establishes into a 'fit for purpose' tree.
No. Please don't top up mulch around street trees with your own materials.
Council uses mulch that meets Australian Standards. Grass clippings or garden waste can harm trees.
What to do:
If mulch looks low, contact Council on 02 9392 5000 or council@innerwest.nsw.gov.au rather than adding material yourself.
No. Residents aren't approved to plant trees on public land.
Planting without approval can be unsafe and may damage underground services (electrical, sewerage, gas).
Council's process ensures safe, high-quality outcomes.
What to do:
If you'd like more trees in your street, contact Council on 02 9392 5000 or council@innerwest.nsw.gov.au and we'll assess the site for the planting program.
Council will assess and, in most cases, remove the tree.
Unapproved plantings can create safety risks during installation or damage infrastructure. Often these trees are compromised and not suitable long term.
What to expect:
We may try to return the tree in a pot if practical. Otherwise, it will be removed and disposed of without compensation.
Yes, primarily in parks and open spaces, or where there’s enough room for them to grow to their full potential and to protect property, footpaths, roads, and utilities.
Large trees need room to grow both above and below ground. Planting appropriately sized trees suitable to each location extends the useful life of both the built assets and the tree and reduces maintenance costs.
We are selecting the most appropriately sized tree for the available space in each location.
Our commitment:
Council plants about 1,000 new trees each year, and overall canopy percentage continues to grow. We are committed to the 'right tree right place' approach.
Sometimes we remove healthy trees when they create risks or significantly impact essential public space, like accessible footpaths, roads, or utilities and there's no practical way to fix the issue.
We manage the urban forest for today and future generations. Past planting decisions didn't always account for site conditions or long-term needs. Current policies and accessibility standards require us to balance trees with safe, inclusive public space. We're transitioning to the most appropriate species in the best locations so the canopy and local ecology can flourish.
Our commitment:
Council plants about 1,000 new trees each year to ensure the Urban Forest benefits both current and future generations. Space is limited and we are committed to the 'right tree right place' approach to ensure a sustainable tree population and maximum benefits.
Sometimes we can't replant in the same spot as the location isn't suitable or compliant with current requirements.
New trees need space to grow, and we must keep footpaths safe and accessible for everyone. Past planting decisions didn't always account for long-term needs. Narrow verges, utilities old and new, and below ground conditions can make the original location unsuitable.
What we do:
We investigate every planting location and consider viable options to install trees within the footway. Where not practical then this site is excluded from the program. Alternative designs for some locations are included in Council's Capital Works program each year where detailed design and costs can be accommodated.