Street Trees
Buckland Street, Plane Trees
The City of Sydney’s street trees are one of our most important assets. They make our city beautiful, improve the air by removing carbon dioxide and returning oxygen, enhance property values and provide cooling shade.
The City has approximately 29,500 street trees, of over 120 differing species, that are both native and exotic species, evergreen and deciduous and range in age, size and condition.
Street Tree Master Plan
The Street Tree Master Plan 2011 guides the City’s street tree planting program over the coming years and achieves, over time, an increase in the quality and quantity of the City’s urban canopy.
The Master Plan provides a clear vision for the City’s streetscapes and ensures that species selected for planting are rigorously assessed to ensure the establishment of the “right tree or the right location”.
The Master Plan 2011 was adopted by Council in December 2011, following extensive community consultation and review. Click here to access the document.
Street tree pruning
The City has programmed all street tree maintenance throughout our Local Government Area. This ensures that our street trees are regularly assessed each year by our qualified staff and the trees are maintained to the very best arboricultural standards.
Street trees will be pruned to:
- remove any dead, dying, dangerous, defective branches
- allow people and traffic to pass under lower branches freely
- allow appropriate clearance where branches are in conflict with adjoining buildings
- improve the stability, health and appearance of the tree
- ensure sightlines for vehicles and traffic signs are not impeded.
Street trees will not be pruned to:
- allow or improve a view
- reduce fruit fall, leaf fall, sap drop, bird droppings or similar
- increase street lighting onto private property
- contravene in any way Australian Standard 4373-2007 (“Pruning of amenity trees”).
Georgina Street, Ficus Macrophylla
If you believe a street tree requires pruning please lodge a request by calling 9265 9333 or emailing council@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au. The City will assess the tree and prioritise the necessary works, which will be undertaken by our qualified staff.
Please do not undertake the pruning of street trees yourself; they are public property and it is Council’s responsibility to maintain them.
Tree pruning for powerline clearance
The City of Sydney does not prune trees to provide clearance from the powerlines. Ausgrid undertakes this pruning and specifies the required clearance from its infrastructure. For information on the clearances specified by Energy Australia you can go to www.ausgrid.com.au.
Street tree removal
The City regularly assesses trees for any potential structural weakness, decay and other diseases. If a tree requires removal, a sign will be placed on the trees trunk informing of the reason for removal and the replacement planting proposed. The contact details of the City officer who inspected the tree is included on the sign, should you have any questions regarding the trees removal.
If the City believes that a tree is in danger of falling, it may be removed immediately to ensure public safety.
Street tree planting
Street Tree Planting
Over the past six years, more than 7,000 advanced street trees have been planted throughout the local government area.
The City’s ongoing program sees street trees planted through the cooler months of the year, from mid March to October. The favourable conditions mean new trees do not suffer from heat stress and establish quickly.
We plant large/advanced trees that are suited to the surrounds. Appropriate species are outlined in our Street Tree Master Plan. Using quality stock with improved installation and maintenance practices means our newly planted trees will establish and grow into healthy, mature specimens.
Due to tree management and legal liability issues, street trees should only be planted by the City, and not by residents (unless as a condition of development consent).
If you would like a street tree planted, please contact the City on 02 9265 9333 or council@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au.
Last Updated: Friday 16 December, 2011
