Tree removal in Dural: what's local
One postcode, two councils
Australia Post lists 2158 for Dural, but the suburb is split between Hornsby Shire and The Hills Shire. Hornsby protects almost every tree; The Hills uses a size test and a list of exemptions with conditions. Your rates notice settles which applies.
Acreage on the bush edge
The RFS says blocks over 1 hectare are not uncommon around Dural, Kenthurst and Annangrove, and many of them run into bushland. East of Old Northern Road, the gullies join Hornsby Shire's national parks and bush.
Nurseries, hobby farms and gated estates
The northern Hills mixes small communities with nurseries, quarries and hobby farms, and subdivided rural land often became small gated estates. If yours is strata, The Hills wants the body corporate's consent before an application goes in.
Which network?
The Hills Shire is Endeavour Energy territory. Hornsby Council says most of its Shire is on Ausgrid but some western parts are on Endeavour, so on the Hornsby side, Ausgrid's online network area check tells you which one serves your street.
Bushfire clearing in Dural
The Hills says the 10/50 code applies to parts of the Shire. Where your address is in an entitlement area, the RFS says you can clear trees on your own land within 10 metres of a home, and shrubs (not trees) within 50 metres.
The limits are firm. The code doesn't cover clearing around powerlines, on slopes over 18 degrees without a geotechnical report, or within 10 metres of a river or lake at least 2 metres wide. Check the RFS tool on the day you clear, keep a copy, and read our 10/50 guide first.
Bigger clearing on acreage is a separate question. The Hills says clearing bushland needs development consent in various zones and is prohibited in some. Our Sydney land clearing page covers that kind of job.
Trees and power lines in Dural
Bigger blocks can have private poles and lines crossing them, and Endeavour Energy says owners must keep their trees clear of powerlines, including the service line. Never prune near them yourself: SafeWork NSW says an ordinary person shouldn't cut branches that could come within 3 metres of a line. If a tree is touching a line, keep everyone clear and call the network: Endeavour Energy or Ausgrid.
Hiring an arborist in Dural
Walk the whole block with the arborist and mark each tree in question, then sort them into three groups: covered by 10/50, needs a council permit, and best left alone. Access matters as much as the trees here. A truck and chipper need a firm way in, and a soft paddock after rain can change the plan, so ask how they'll get to each tree.