What decides whether council needs to approve it?
Council says its planning scheme and state legislation together regulate clearing and lopping, on public and private land. In most cases clearing is accepted development (no approval needed) when the lot isn't affected by certain zones or overlays and the work meets Table 1.7.7.1 of the planning scheme. When it is affected, the clearing becomes assessable and needs approval first.
A state exemption doesn't settle it here. In Fairmont Group v Moreton Bay Regional Council [2019] QCA 81, the Court of Appeal held that Moreton Bay's planning scheme could make clearing that's exempt under state rules into assessable development. So check both the state rules and council's.
What does Moreton Bay treat as high value?
Council says clearing or lopping vegetation of local or state environmental significance may be illegal. Matters of Local Environmental Significance cover any vegetation with biodiversity, cultural or heritage value, including habitat trees: native trees more than 80 centimetres in diameter at 1.3 metres from the ground. Matters of State Environmental Significance cover regulated vegetation.
Koala habitat and koala priority areas are high-value areas too, and council says those generally need approval. Removing a dead habitat tree still counts as clearing, which surprises people. Our guide on whether a tree is really dead helps you describe it accurately.
How to check your lot and apply
Look up council's overlay map
Enter the address on council's interactive overlay mapping and tick Environmental Areas in the layer list.
Check the koala layer
On Queensland Globe, add the Koala Plan layer under Environment.
Order a vegetation management report
This state report, requested with your lot and plan number, shows whether there's regulated vegetation on the property.
Run the self-assessment checklist
Council asks you to complete it before clearing or cutting anything. It's general advice and isn't an application.
Apply if the clearing is assessable
In council's Online Services, start a Development Operational Works enquiry and choose Vegetation Clearing. Approval comes before any work starts.
What about wildlife?
Council says that if wildlife is present, a spotter catcher should supervise the clearing, and work may need to stop until animals are moved safely. Hollows, nests and possums in the roof line are worth looking for before anyone books a crew.
If we were in your shoes
Do the map checks and the checklist yourself, then save the results. If the lot shows Environmental Areas or koala mapping, or the tree is a big old native, we'd treat it as needing approval and apply before booking the job. Ask any arborist who quotes whether they work with a spotter catcher where wildlife might be present, and get that written into the quote.
Want an arborist to look at it?
Tell us the job and your postcode, and a local arborist calls you to talk it through.