Independence rules
Which councils want the report and the tree work from different companies?
Our two AQF Level 5 consulting arborists can write your report, and our crews can do the approved work. A few councils won't accept both from the same company, so for those you choose which half we do. Most councils are happy for us to do both. We'd rather tell you now than after you've lodged.
| Council | The rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Woollahra | Accepts reports only from AQF 5 arborists whose company has no financial link to tree removal or pruning. | One company can't do both. Our AQF 5 arborists can write the report with another contractor doing the removal, or an independent consultant reports and we do the work. |
| Lane Cove | Its DCP says reports must be by independent AQF 5 arborists. | Same as Woollahra: we write the report or we do the work, not both. |
| Sutherland Shire | Council inspects every application itself, so a report is optional. The reduced-fee TRAQ application needs a report from an independent, TRAQ-licensed consultant. | We write reports for ordinary applications, dangerous-tree evidence and reviews, and do the work. For the TRAQ fee line, the report and the removal come from different companies. |
| Willoughby | Its application form asks for an independent AQF Level 5 arborist's report. | Report and removal from different companies. Tell us which half you want us for. |
| Mosman | Dangerous-tree claims and appeals need an independent consulting arborist's report. | For those two cases, report and removal from different companies. Everything else: we can do both. |
| Northern Beaches | Removing a significant tree needs a report from an independent qualified arborist. | For significant trees, report and removal from different companies. Everything else: we can do both. |
| Liverpool | Expects an AQF 5 report for removals; recommends independent advice for dead or imminent-risk trees. | We write the report and do the work. |
| Ryde | Expects an AQF 5 report for removals. | We write the report and do the work. |
For the other Sydney councils we cover, we write the report and do the approved work, and we'll check the council's current form before we start. Each council's page on our main website notes the rule where it exists: council tree rules for 32 Sydney councils.
Why the rule exists. Councils worry that a company that profits from removing the tree will recommend removing the tree. We write what we find, and our reports say so when a tree should stay; but where a council has made independence a condition, we respect it: we'll write the report and another contractor does the work, or an independent consultant reports and we do the work.
Not sure about your council?
Tell us the council and the tree and we'll check its current requirements before you pay for anything.