Strata Tree Removal: Avoiding Delays On The Day

For a smooth strata tree removal, the contractor should have the owners corporation's written authorisation, any required council approval and a clear plan showing exactly which tree is coming out. Access, parking and resident notices should all be settled before the crew arrives, with one nominated contact who can approve changes.

The quote has been accepted. Residents have been emailed. Someone has finally found a date that works.

Then the truck arrives and there's a car parked under the tree. The side gate is locked, and the person with the key has left for work. And the permit refers to "Tree 3" while the quote describes "the gum near the driveway".

These are the details worth sorting out while the job is still on paper.

Strata tree removal checklist

• Written authorisation from the owners corporation and the accepted quote

• Council approval, with its conditions and plans, where required

• The arborist report, if there is one

• A site plan or marked photo showing the tree and the access route

• One named contact for the day

• Resident and tenant notices sent, with a reminder close to the date

• Keys, gates and parking sorted

Put the working documents in one place

Ask the strata manager to send the contractor one complete set of current documents. Keep them consistent. If the quote was revised to include stump grinding, send that version. If council approved only part of the work, make sure the contractor knows which part.

An old email saying "please remove both trees" shouldn't be sitting beside a permit that authorises one.

Is an arborist report enough to start the work?

No. An arborist report gives an assessment and recommendations, but it doesn't replace council approval. NSW Planning says you generally need council permission to remove trees, even on your own property, and advises checking your council's rules before any work starts.

Council approval isn't the owners corporation's instruction to proceed either. In NSW, the owners corporation must maintain common property, which includes shared gardens, so have the strata manager confirm the scheme has authorised the work. Our post on who decides on strata tree removal covers that earlier stage.

Make the tree easy to identify

Use the same tree number or description across the report, permit, plan and quote. A marked photo helps, especially where several similar trees line a boundary. Show the whole tree and something recognisable nearby, like the building entrance or garage.

Descriptions get vague as they pass between people. "The tree outside unit four" might mean the one visible from its balcony, not the one beside its front door.

What if the permit and quote describe different trees?

Sort it out before work starts. Have the contractor and strata representative match the documents to the tree on site. If the approval itself is unclear, ask the council that issued it.

Walk the access route first

The contractor needs to see how equipment, workers and cut material will move through the property. On an apartment site, that might be a narrow driveway beside basement parking. In a townhouse complex, it could mean carrying material past several front doors.

SafeWork NSW advises telling contractors about known hazards, such as underground tanks, buried services and plumbing near the tree, and asking them to explain how they'll do the job safely. Flag service covers, irrigation and retaining walls too.

Don't assume a paved courtyard can take whatever machinery fits through the gate. If there's a garage or basement underneath, say so.

And test the gate key. Hunting for the right one while a crew waits outside is an avoidable start.

Can residents still use the driveway?

It depends on the work method and site layout. Ask the contractor which areas need to close, for how long, and how foot traffic will be managed.

SafeWork NSW expects an exclusion zone around tree work to be set up and enforced, with traffic managed in the work area. Residents shouldn't walk through just because it seems quiet between cuts. If equipment or closures will spill onto a public footpath or road, agree who's arranging the approvals before the date is announced.

Tell residents what they need to do

A useful notice gives practical instructions: the date, the expected working hours, affected parking spaces, access restrictions and a contact for questions. Say whether balcony furniture, pot plants or other belongings need moving.

Make sure tenants get it too. An email to an interstate owner doesn't necessarily reach the person whose car is under the tree.

Ask residents to flag essential access needs in advance, such as carers, mobility needs or deliveries. There's usually something. A removalist booked for the same morning. Bin day. Someone who can't move their car without help. Better to hear about it beforehand.

How much notice should residents get?

Agree the timing with the strata manager and contractor, based on the scheme's requirements and how disruptive the work will be. Give people enough time to make arrangements, then send a reminder close to the date. Don't promise uninterrupted access until the contractor has confirmed it.

Agree who can approve changes

Nominate one authorised contact for the job. During a strata tree removal, a resident may ask the crew to take another branch, remove a shrub or leave some timber behind. Those requests can change the scope, the cost or the approval conditions.

The crew should refer them to the nominated contact, and any extra work still needs the right authority and permits. It also gives residents one clear way to raise concerns, instead of several people directing the crew at once.

Know what happens after the tree comes down

Before booking, confirm whether the price includes stump grinding, removal of timber and woodchip, and any ground repairs. SafeWork NSW also recommends asking for a certificate of currency to confirm the contractor's insurance.

Does removal include planting a replacement tree?

Only if it's in the agreed scope. But your council permit may require one. The City of Sydney, for example, says most tree removal permits include a condition to replace the tree on the property. Check the conditions and decide who's arranging the planting.

Plan your strata tree work with Arbor Co

Arbor Co's strata tree services team works with strata managers and owners corporations across Sydney. Send us the report, any approvals and photos of the access.

Include the awkward details, like the basement under the courtyard, the locked side gate and the driveway everyone shares. They're much easier to work through before the truck turns up.