Strata Tree Removal: Who Decides What Happens?

A tree in a private backyard generally has one owner making the decisions.

In a strata complex, it can be rather different.

The tree might grow from common property but overhang a private courtyard. Its roots may lift a shared driveway while its canopy shades three apartments. One resident wants it removed. Another believes it is the best feature of the property.

Then the strata manager gets copied into a growing email chain.

This is why strata tree removal is rarely just a tree-work decision. It is also a matter of responsibility, communication and getting the process in the right order.

Start by Working Out Where the Tree Sits

Before discussing removal, establish whether the tree is on common property, within a private lot or close enough to a boundary that ownership is not immediately clear.

That sounds obvious, but garden boundaries in older Sydney strata complexes are not always as straightforward as the fences suggest. A resident may have maintained a courtyard for years without the courtyard necessarily forming part of their lot.

The strata plan can help clarify responsibility.

Where the tree is on common property, the owners corporation will generally need to be involved in decisions about assessment, approval and payment. A resident should not arrange removal simply because branches hang over their balcony or leaves fall into their courtyard.

Get the ownership question sorted first. It saves quite a few awkward conversations later.

A Complaint Is Not the Same as an Arborist Assessment

Most strata tree discussions begin with a genuine concern.

Residents might report:

• Falling branches or deadwood

• Roots lifting paving or damaging garden walls

• Branches touching windows, roofs or balconies

• Excessive shade over apartments

• Leaves, fruit or sap falling onto vehicles

• Concerns about a tree leaning

These issues deserve attention, although they do not all lead to removal.

A tree touching a building may only need selective pruning. Lifted paving might be addressed without cutting major roots. A large tree that looks alarming from an upstairs window may turn out to be structurally sound.

And, of course, the reverse can happen. A fairly ordinary-looking tree may have decay, poor branch unions or root disturbance that is difficult to see from ground level.

An arborist’s role is to separate inconvenience, visible damage and actual tree risk. They sometimes overlap. Not always.

Removal Should Usually Be One of Several Options

Once a problem has been identified, the next step is to consider the reasonable ways of dealing with it.

Those options may include pruning, canopy reduction, deadwood removal, root-zone management, monitoring or removing the tree. The right answer depends on the tree and its location rather than on which resident has written the strongest email.

This is especially important in established complexes where mature trees contribute shade, privacy and the general character of the grounds.

Keeping a tree at any cost is not sensible. Neither is removing one because it has become mildly inconvenient.

There is usually a middle part to that conversation.

Sydney Council Rules Need to Be Checked Early

Tree controls vary across Sydney, so the relevant council requirements should be checked before removal is scheduled.

Depending on the tree, its size, species, location and condition, council permission or supporting documentation may be needed. Heritage controls, environmental overlays and other site restrictions can also affect what is allowed.

It is better to investigate this before the committee formally approves a contractor and announces a date to residents. Otherwise, what appeared to be a simple job can stall while everyone goes back through the paperwork.

Where removal is recommended because a tree is dangerous, dying or causing significant damage, clear photographs and an arborist report may help the strata committee understand the recommendation and support any required application.

Access Can Change the Entire Job

Strata properties often have limited access.

The tree might be behind a row of townhouses, beside an underground car park, above a narrow pedestrian path or surrounded by landscaping that residents expect to remain untouched. There may be no direct route for machinery and nowhere obvious to lower larger branches.

Parking also tends to become part of it. So do bins, clotheslines, balconies, air-conditioning units and that one resident who works nights and would really prefer the wood chipper did not start at 7 am.

A proper site inspection should consider how the tree will be dismantled, where debris can be processed and removed, and which areas will need to be temporarily closed.

This planning is not separate from the removal. It is part of doing it safely.

What Should the Strata Committee Approve?

A quote should give the committee enough detail to understand what is included.

That may cover:

• The tree or trees being removed

• Whether the stump will be ground

• Removal of timber, branches and woodchips

• Access requirements

• Traffic or pedestrian controls

• Protection of nearby buildings and gardens

• Required permits or approvals

• Timing and expected disruption

• Insurance and safety documentation

It is worth checking the stump. People often assume it is included, then discover later that the quote covered removal to ground level only.

For larger or more complicated properties, Arbor Co’s Strata Tree Services include tree removal, pruning, stump grinding, emergency work and ongoing maintenance for Sydney strata properties and body corporates.

Keeping Residents Informed Helps More Than You Think

Once the work is approved, residents should be told what is happening, why it is happening and how it may affect them.

Not every resident needs the full arborist report, although a short explanation can prevent rumours. Removal because of structural decline sounds very different to removal because “the committee wanted more sunlight.”

The notice should mention the work date, expected noise, temporary access restrictions and whether vehicles need to be moved.

A little clarity tends to lower the temperature.

Common Questions About Removing Trees in Strata

Can One Owner Stop an Approved Removal?

An owner can raise concerns and ask the committee to review its decision. Whether the work can proceed will depend on the property’s approval process, the reason for removal and any applicable strata or council requirements.

Who Pays for the Work?

If the tree is on common property, the cost will commonly be paid by the owners corporation. Responsibility can become less clear where a tree is within a private lot or damage involves neighbouring property, so the strata plan and relevant advice should be checked.

Does the Committee Need More Than One Quote?

That may depend on the scheme’s procedures, spending limits and the value of the work. Even where several quotes are obtained, they should be compared on scope rather than price alone.

A cheaper quote that excludes stump grinding, traffic control or debris removal may not actually be cheaper by the end.

Can Tree Removal Happen Without Council Approval?

Some trees may be exempt under the relevant council rules, while others require approval. The correct position should be confirmed before work begins rather than assumed.

What Happens After the Tree Is Removed?

The stump may need grinding, the area may require soil improvement, and replacement planting could be appropriate. It is worth planning this before the tree comes down, particularly where it currently provides privacy or shade.

A Better Process Usually Means a Better Outcome

The difficult part of strata tree removal is not always the physical work.

It is reaching a clear, supportable decision before the arborists arrive.

Confirm where the tree is located. Have the concern properly assessed. Check council requirements. Give the committee a detailed scope and tell residents what to expect.

None of that is especially dramatic.

But on a shared Sydney property, it is usually what allows the actual tree work to happen safely, calmly and without the issue dragging through another three committee meetings.