Tree Removal Newcastle

Tree Removal in Newcastle by Qualified Arborists

Waratah Professional Tree Care removes trees for homeowners, strata properties and businesses across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens and the wider Hunter. We are a family-owned business run by Steven and Salena Brown, and we have been caring for trees in the region since 1998.
 
Homeowners usually call us when something about a tree has started to worry them. A storm has left a large branch hanging over the house. A tree has died and is starting to drop limbs. Roots are lifting a driveway or getting into the drains. Or a renovation, pool or extension is planned and a tree is sitting exactly where the work needs to go. Whatever the reason, we look at the tree, the space around it and what you want the yard to look like afterwards, and then we explain what we recommend and why.

When Tree Removal Is the Right Choice

Removing a tree is a permanent decision, so we only recommend it when it is the sensible option. Tree removal is usually the right call when:

• the tree is dead, dying or dropping large limbs
• storm damage has split the trunk or left the tree leaning
• the tree is a risk to people, the house, a shed, a fence or a neighbour’s property
• roots are damaging pipes, paving, driveways or foundations
• the tree is growing into powerlines or against the roofline
• the tree is in the way of a building project, pool or landscaping plan

If the tree is healthy and the real problem is one heavy limb or branches over the roof, pruning may solve it and keep the tree. When pruning is the better option, we will explain it when we look at the tree. Our tree pruning page covers that service in more detail.

How We Remove a Tree Safely in a Newcastle Backyard

Many Newcastle yards do not have room to drop a tree in one piece. When houses, fences, sheds, pools or powerlines are close by, our arborists climb the tree and take it down in sections. Each section is cut and lowered to the ground on ropes and rigging, which keeps the weight under control and away from your roof, gutters and garden.

Our tree removal process follows four steps.

Step 1: Site Assessment

We look at the tree’s health and stability, the access into the yard, nearby buildings and fences, and where each section can safely be lowered.

Step 2: Planning the Removal and Managing Risk

Before any cutting starts, we identify the hazards on the site and set up the work area. Our climbers use certified climbing and rigging gear on every removal.

Step 3: Taking the Tree Down in Sections

The tree is dismantled from the top down, one limb at a time, and each piece is lowered to the ground in a controlled way.

Step 4: Clean-Up After the Tree Removal

All branches, foliage and timber are mulched or taken away, and we tidy the area so your yard is clear, safe and free of debris when we leave. We can also grind out the stump, and our stump grinding page explains how that works.

Do You Need Council Approval to Remove a Tree in Newcastle?

The answer depends on the tree and where it sits on your block. City of Newcastle lists several situations where a tree on private land can be removed without an approval, provided you have the landowner’s consent. These include:

• a tree within 3 metres of a dwelling, a building over 20 square metres or a pool
• a tree that is dead, or a tree suddenly damaged by a storm or strong wind that poses an immediate risk to life or property (council asks for its Storm Damaged Tree Removal Form within 5 days of the removal)
• a small tree, which council defines as under 3 metres tall, or with a single trunk under 450 millimetres around at 1.4 metres above the ground
• a species listed as exempt in council’s Urban Forest Technical Manual

Those exemptions do not apply in the same way to trees on heritage-listed land, in a heritage conservation area where the tree can be seen from the street, or on land with Aboriginal heritage significance. Native vegetation, wetlands and trees protected by a development consent follow separate rules again. If your property is in a bushfire-prone area, the NSW Rural Fire Service 10/50 scheme may also apply, which allows trees within 10 metres of a home to be cleared without approval in a designated area.

Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Cessnock and Port Stephens councils each set their own tree rules. When we come out to look at your tree, we will talk you through which rules are likely to apply and point you to the right council form before any work starts. Council’s own website has the final word, so we always suggest checking it for your address.

Get a Free Tree Removal Quote in Newcastle

If you have a tree that needs to come down, call Waratah Professional Tree Care on 0414 706 653 or email admin@treecarenewcastle.com.au. We are available Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Tell us what you have noticed about the tree and where it is on your property, and send a photo through the quote form if you can. Steve, Salena or one of the team will be in touch to arrange a time to look at the tree.