Council or your builder has asked for a tree protection zone report, and your project is waiting on it. Our AQF Level 3-5 certified arborists prepare reports that meet Hills Shire Council requirements for homeowners and builders. Book a free tree inspection or request a same-day quote.
A tree protection zone report is an arborist’s written assessment of how a building or landscaping project will affect trees that are staying on site. It sets out the area around each tree that must be kept clear, so the roots and trunk are not damaged during work. When a development application needs it, the same document is often called a DA arborist report or an arboricultural impact assessment.
Hills Shire Council or a certifier will often ask for a report alongside a development application. Common triggers include:
The tree protection zone (TPZ) is calculated from the trunk diameter, following the AS 4970 tree protection standard. The structural root zone (SRZ) is a smaller area closer to the trunk, mapped to show where the roots that keep the tree stable must not be cut. Both are drawn onto a plan so builders know where they can and cannot dig.
Under the Hills Shire tree preservation provisions, which sit within the wider NSW tree preservation order framework, a tree on private land in Baulkham Hills usually needs council approval if it meets any one of these thresholds:
Sydney Blue Gum, Turpentine and Grey Ironbark are among the protected species found across the Hills District.
Council maps parts of Baulkham Hills for environmental values, so a tree can need approval even when it stands wholly on your own land. Heritage, biodiversity and bushfire overlays can also bring tree work under council control. A smaller tree in a mapped vegetation zone may need a permit when the same tree elsewhere would not.
Assuming approval is unnecessary can lead to serious legal and financial consequences, and unapproved work is more likely to be reported in denser streets where neighbours can see it. Read council’s guidance on tree work on private land and confirm your obligations first.
If the tree is coming out, a tree removal permit in the Hills Shire is a separate approval from the protection report, and our AQF-certified arborists check species, size and overlays to tell you whether your tree before removal needs one. Where a tree is not obviously dead, dying or damaged, a qualified arborist report often decides whether council approves or refuses.
A free tree inspection from our AQF Level 3-5 certified arborists identifies protected species like Sydney Blue Gum, Turpentine and Grey Ironbark and confirms the tree’s protection status. There’s no call-out fee, and we offer same-day quoting. Call 0475 463 597 before council approval timelines slow your project.
A tree protection zone report from Trees Down Under is prepared by AQF Level 3-5 certified arborists who work to AS 4970 and Hills Shire Council requirements. The team is fully licensed, insured and Cm3 certified, so the report and the work behind it stand up to certifier scrutiny.
Each report covers tree health and risk, photographs, tree protection zone calculation, structural root zone mapping and fencing specifications. Where removal is not the only option, it also sets out pruning or canopy reduction as alternatives.
Trees Down Under has operated since 2005, with more than 20 years of hands-on experience. A qualified arborist report often decides between approval and refusal, especially when a tree is not obviously dead, dying or damaged.
We work with every local council in Sydney. Permits don’t have to be a headache when the report is done right the first time.
Joseph Khoury, Director & Founder, Trees Down Under
The team is based in Dural and knows the Hills District’s mapped vegetation, overlays and protected species first-hand. Trees Down Under holds a 4.8/5 rating from more than 182 Google reviews.
Quoting is transparent, with same-day quoting offered where possible. If the tree work goes ahead, the company’s own crane fleet carries no extra fees, and full site clean-up is included.
Tree protection plan development does not stop at the report. Retained trees on a live building site are protected with tree protection fencing set at the calculated TPZ, plus controls that keep machinery, materials and digging out of the root zone for the length of the build.
Trees Down Under’s arborists specify the fencing in the tree protection plan and can handle any follow-on work. Where a tree must come down close to a house or boundary, sectional dismantling avoids damage to structures and neighbouring trees, and the crew works from the company’s own crane fleet. Site clean-up is included.
Before any tree is removed, confirm the requirements with The Hills Shire Council.
The council permits page is the right starting point for Hills Shire paperwork. It includes the 2024-2025 Tree Preservation Application for Removal or Pruning form. Check Hills Shire Council’s current requirements before lodging, as forms and thresholds can change.
Thank you for considering Trees Down Under for your tree protection zone report. The next step is a free tree inspection, and the team keeps you informed at every stage.
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