Tree removal in Northcote: what's local
Narrow lots, close neighbours
Northcote's early lots were long and narrow, mostly running east-west, and in 2011 row houses and flats made up 40.2% of its homes. Getting a tree out can mean carrying it down a side path or over a fence, so ask how the wood will leave.
Between two creeks
The Merri Creek runs along the west and the Darebin Creek along the east. Darebin has Environmental Significance Overlays for both creek corridors, ESO1 and ESO2.
Ruckers Hill
Near the town hall, Ruckers Hill slopes down to the Merri Creek. A sloping back yard changes how an arborist sets up and where cut sections can be lowered.
Lines overhead
Northcote lies south of Dundas Street, inside CitiPower's network area. The line from the pole to your house is yours to keep clear: Energy Safe Victoria says before trees grow within one metre of it.
Neighbours' trees in Northcote
In Victoria you can cut back branches and roots that cross onto your side of the boundary, at your own cost. Unless you agree otherwise, the cuttings go back to your neighbour, because they're still the neighbour's property.
You'll need your neighbour's consent to go onto their land, and you're liable for any damage you do to their tree. If the tree might be protected, ask Darebin first: a permit can be needed even to cut a protected tree back. On Darebin's local law, that's a tree over 8 metres tall whose trunk is more than 100 cm around at 1.5 metres.
Still stuck? The Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria mediates neighbour tree disputes. Our neighbours' trees guide walks through the steps.
Tree jobs you can do yourself in Northcote
You can
- Trim small overhanging twigs from your side, with both feet on the ground and hand tools.
- Bag the cuttings and offer them back to your neighbour.
- Clear the side path so an arborist can see how gear gets in.
- Measure the trunk at 1.5 metres to see whether Darebin's local law could apply.
Leave to an arborist
- Anything near the service line to the house.
- Branches over a roof, a shed or the house next door.
- Taking a tree down in sections where there's no room for it to fall.
- Grinding a stump close to fences, pipes or footings.
Hiring an arborist in Northcote
Talk to the neighbour before anyone else, especially if gear or branches will cross their yard. Then check the tree against Darebin's rules on the council permit page. A good quote for a narrow site says how the tree comes out, where the truck parks and who cleans up next door.