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Guidelines for arborists

Guidelines for Arborist Reports

  1. The name, business address, telephone number of company;
  2. Evidence of technical qualifications and experience of the arborist who undertakes the tree inspection, diagnoses and prepares the report;
  3. The address of the site containing the trees;
  4. The name of the person or company for whom the report is prepared;
  5. The methods or techniques used in the inspection;
  6. A suitably scaled plan of the site showing: -
    • The location of all trees on the site and any trees on adjoining land which overhang or undergrow, including street / park trees
    • The subject land
    • The location of above and below ground services/ utilities in proximity to the trees shown.
  7. A table showing for each tree surveyed:
    • The common and full scientific name
    • The age class
    • The estimated height
    • The trunk diameter at 1.4 metres
    • The canopy spread to the four cardinal points
    • A summary of the trees’ health and structural condition
    • An estimation of the trees useful life expectancy using appropriate industry methods
  1. A summary and/ or discussion of other relevant tree and site information such as soil and drainage characteristics, pests and diseases, and tree hazard assessment details;
  2. The tree assessment should be conducted and recorded in accordance with industry best practice;
  3. Supporting evidence such as annotated photographs and laboratory results if relevant;
  4. A discussion of all options available, including why they are recommended or not recommended, eg can a built structure be relocated, repaired and tree(s) retained?
  5. A review of the implications of the proposed development on the health and structural condition of trees to be retained;
  6. A description of the recommended protection measures to be put in place to ensure the protection of trees to be retained;
  7. A list of recommendations and the reasons for their adoption;
  8. The sources of technical information referred to in the report. References not used in the report should not be included;
  9. Present information as objectively as possible without attempting to support a specific development outcome;
  10. Provide the scientific and common names of all tree species proposed for planting, including recommendations on the size and quality characteristics of trees to be planted.

Last updated: Friday, 24 May 2013