Tree removal permits in Greensborough
Since the 1994 council mergers, the Greensborough bypass has been the boundary between Banyule City and Nillumbik Shire, so the suburb's houses are split between the two. Your rates notice names your council. Everything else follows from that.
On the Banyule side, the council says every one of its residential areas has tree protection overlays in the planning scheme. Whether your tree needs a permit depends on things like its size and species, and for pruning, how much live canopy comes off. The Banyule permit page sets out how to apply, and the Development Planning team can help.
On the Nillumbik side, trees can be protected three ways: planning controls, local laws, and restrictions registered on the land title, usually a Section 173 agreement. Ask Nillumbik's Planning Services. There's no Nillumbik page on our site yet, so the Victorian permit guide is the place to start.
Either way, the state's canopy tree clause, 52.37, sits on top. It can need a planning permit for a tree at least 5 metres tall with a canopy at least 4 metres across, near your street frontage or back boundary.
Tree removal in Greensborough: what's local
The Plenty River valley
Greensborough sits on the Plenty River, with reserves along the valley and linear reserves running off it. If your back fence meets one, find out whether an overhanging tree is yours or the council's before anyone quotes.
Hilly blocks
The land around Greensborough is hilly. On a sloping block, how the arborist gets gear to the tree and where the timber lands shape the job as much as the tree's size.
Bushfire mapping isn't uniform
Most of Nillumbik is mapped bushfire prone, but Nillumbik says some urban parts of Greensborough aren't. Look up your own address on VicPlan before you rely on any bushfire clearing rule.
Two power networks
Banyule's line clearance plan names two networks working in its area, Jemena and AusNet. Nillumbik shares line clearance with AusNet. A tree touching a street line is the network's job, so keep clear and ring the right one.
Before you ring either council
- The council on your rates notice: Banyule or Nillumbik.
- A photo of each tree and a rough sketch of where it sits on the block.
- How many trees are involved. Banyule asks for an arborist report once 4 or more are in the application.
- Whether any tree is on Banyule's significant tree register, which also brings an arborist report into it.
- Your VicPlan property report, which lists the overlays on your land.
- For Nillumbik, a copy of your title, so any Section 173 agreement shows up early.
Hiring an arborist in Greensborough
Work out the council first, then ring its planning line before anyone cuts. On the Banyule side, assume an overlay covers a decent-sized tree until the council tells you otherwise. On a steep block, ask each arborist to explain how the tree comes down and how the wood gets out, and to put that in the written quote.