Tree removal in Wahroonga: good to know
| Ku-ring-gai Council | Hornsby Shire Council | |
|---|---|---|
| What counts as a tree | 5 metres or taller, or a trunk of 150mm or more at ground level, native or exotic | Any long-lived woody plant with the potential to grow over 3 metres |
| How you apply | Online tree application portal, with four documents in one PDF | Online services portal (ePathway) or council's application form |
| A dead tree | No work until council confirms in writing it's dead and not needed as habitat | Council has to deem it dead in writing, from photos, and not needed as habitat |
| Arborist reports | Not required, but any report must follow council's guidelines | Accepted only if written to council's guidelines; an AQF5 report may be needed |
Tree removal in Wahroonga: what's local
Gardens from the 1890s
After the railway opened in 1890, wealthy Sydney businessmen built homes here with large gardens, and Wahroonga is still known for tree-lined, shady streets. Wahroonga Park alone has a significant number of well established introduced trees.
Heritage conservation areas
Ku-ring-gai added heritage conservation areas in Wahroonga, Pymble and Turramurra in 2019. On a heritage item or in a conservation area, Ku-ring-gai's exemptions don't apply, and tree work needs development consent.
Remnant forest
A small patch of Blue Gum High Forest sits next to the tennis courts at The Glade, and Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest grows at the southern end of Fox Valley Road. Ku-ring-gai applies no exemptions to trees in either.
Ausgrid on both sides
Ausgrid lists Wahroonga on its trimming program under Ku-ring-gai for October 2026 and under Hornsby for November 2026. A tree on a street line is Ausgrid's to deal with.
National park to the north
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park lies north of Wahroonga. To see whether your block is mapped bushfire prone, use Ku-ring-gai's web map, the RFS online tool, or a Section 10.7 planning certificate.
Questions to ask an arborist in Wahroonga
- Which council is this tree under, and have you worked with them before?
- Could this tree be part of a remnant forest community?
- If council wants a report, will you write it to their guidelines?
- How will it come down without damaging the garden beds, paths and walls we're keeping?
- What does the quote include for the stump and the clean-up?
- Can I see your insurance and your arboriculture qualifications?
Hiring an arborist in Wahroonga
Confirm the council first, since it changes the size test, the paperwork and who signs off a dead tree. Then have an arborist look at the tree with the whole garden in mind. In an old Wahroonga garden, the route in for the gear often decides the method as much as the tree does.