Arborists in Revesby: good to know
The Canterbury Bankstown/Georges River bush fire plan treats the riverside from Picnic Point to Oatley as a focus area. It rates the homes there High Risk and says fires in reserves across the river could send embers over in strong wind, even though no significant fire has hit the area in 20 years.
The plan lists ignition prevention work in Revesby Heights and asks residents to keep up their own asset protection zones, meaning the ground around the house where fuel is kept low. For trees, that puts dead branches over the roof, gutters full of leaves and limbs rubbing the walls at the top of the list, with council's approval where the tree is protected.
Arborists in Revesby: what's local
Old gardens, tall trees
Wikipedia says Revesby grew in Sydney's post-war expansion, with many modest fibro bungalows. Gardens that age often hold trees planted generations ago, now well past the 5 metre height council uses as its main permit test.
Rare forest along the river
The fire plan counts 19 threatened ecological communities in the riverside focus area, Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest among them, plus 205ha of coastal wetlands. Close to the river, ask council whether your land is on its Biodiversity Map, because trees there are covered at any size.
Something living in the hollow?
If birds are nesting in a tree or animals use its hollows, council warns its own permit doesn't cancel the state's Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, so a separate approval may be needed. Mention any nest or hollow when you apply.
Heritage sites
Revesby Public School on The River Road and two houses, Ferndale Cottage on Ferndale Road and The Pah on Tompson Road, are on council's heritage list. Trees on a heritage item need a development application rather than a tree permit.
Lines in the street
Ausgrid supplies Canterbury-Bankstown. For a tree across a street line or a fallen wire, call Ausgrid, keep 8 metres away and assume it's live.
Tree removal permits in Revesby
Number the trees
Give each tree in the application its own number (T1, T2) and mark it on site with ribbon, paint or a tag so the officer finds the right one.
Expect a look from the ground
Council's officers assess from ground level. If the worry is high in the crown or under the soil, its form asks for a report from an arborist with at least AQF Level 5.
Keep the permit handy
A permit runs for 12 months from issue, and a copy has to be at the property while the work is done.
If the answer is no
A review has to be sought within three months of the decision. New information, such as a consulting arborist's report, gives the review something to work with.
Hiring an arborist in Revesby
Near the river, we'd sort the fire jobs first: deadwood over the roof and limbs touching the house, with council's approval where it's needed. Then we'd ask an arborist whether the big backyard tree is actually a problem or simply big. An honest answer to that is worth more than a fast quote to take it down.