Tree removal permits in Burwood
This page covers Burwood, postcode 3125, and Burwood East, 3151, in Melbourne's east. Whitehorse lists both among its suburbs. Burwood in Sydney is under NSW law; see the NSW permit page for that one.
Victorian Places says Burwood's edges are hard to pin down, and parts of it moved to Glen Iris and Camberwell in 2000. If you're unsure, the council named on your rates notice is the one to ask.
How tree removal works in Burwood
Look up your address on VicPlan
The property report lists the zones and overlays on your block.
Check for an old planning permit
Whitehorse says an earlier permit's landscape plan may show trees that must be kept.
Test it against clause 52.37
Whitehorse needs a permit to remove, lop or destroy a tree over 5 metres tall with an average canopy at least 4 metres across, within 4.5 metres of the rear boundary or 6 metres of the front.
Then test it against any overlay
Whitehorse says to assess the two separately. In its Significant Landscape Overlay areas 1 to 8, a protected tree has a single trunk 50 cm or more around at 1 metre up, and works within four metres of one need a permit too.
Ask in writing
Ring Whitehorse planning, or lodge a Planning Information Request for a written answer. The Whitehorse permit page has more.
Tree removal in Burwood: what's local
Wattle Park
Victorian Places counts Wattle Park as part of Burwood. Parks Victoria says its tracks are shaded by gums and wattles, and its Lone Pine, planted in 1933, is one of four in Victoria grown from Gallipoli seed.
Gardiners Creek valley
Burwood's first drive-in, in 1954, sat in a valley beside Gardiners Creek. On a sloping block near the creek reserves, mention the slope when you ask for quotes.
Orchards to suburbs
Postwar housing slowly took over Burwood's small farms and orchards as growth spread east along Burwood Highway. Deakin University's campus sits on the highway too.
United Energy lines
Whitehorse's line clearance plan names United Energy as its electricity distributor. For a tree on a street line, keep away and ring United Energy.
Hiring an arborist in Burwood
Look up the overlays, then measure three things: the height, the canopy width and the trunk at 1 metre. If the tree is over 5 metres and near the front or back boundary, assume clause 52.37 applies and ask Whitehorse. For one tree, a VicSmart application is the quicker path if you haven't had one approved in the last 12 months.