Public Trees and Vegetation
Maintenance of existing trees and vegetation on Council owned and managed land
Council owned and managed trees are considered community infrastructure similar to reserves, sporting fields, roads and footpaths.
Trees not only enhance the beauty of the Hornsby Shire, they also help to keep the streets cool, keep the air clean and provide food and shelter for wildlife.
Street trees provide shade over hard surfaces reducing the ‘heat island’ effect by cooling the hard surfaces and providing shade for parked cars.
Can I prune a tree on Council owned or managed land?
Residents of the Hornsby Shire are not permitted to prune or remove a tree on Council owned or managed land.
If you are concerned about a tree located on Council owned or managed land (eg nature strips, parks and sportsgrounds) lodge a service request with Council and one of Councils AQF5 Arborists will assess the tree in question in accordance with Councils Tree Assessment Principles along with the implementation of an industry recognised risk assessment to determine if maintenance is required.
Once you have lodged a service request, Council will inform you in writing when it has commenced action on your request. Please use the service request search tool to view progress and / or updates.
Telephone – Call Council’s Customer Service team on 9847 6666 (office hours)
Typical requests include:
- The collection of branches fallen from nature strip trees
- General pruning and maintenance of street trees
- Request to plant a tree on nature strip
- Investigation of private trees overhanging public spaces (nature strip, walkway, footpath etc)
- For queries in relation to power line clearance pruning, please call Ausgrid Customer Service Centre on 13 15 35 or www.ausgrid.com.au/Contact-Us
Request a new tree on your nature strip
Once a request has been made to plant a new tree on the nature strip a Council Tree Management Officer will inspect the nature strip to determine the suitability of the site for planting, and tree species. The Officer will take into consideration the planting space available, the location of powerlines, driveways, motorist and pedestrian sightlines and any other relevant factors. Confirmed tree planting requests are added to the next annual Council tree planting program, for planting between April and September in optimal weather conditions. Trees are planted by Council contractors, and at minimum will have a mulch layer at base with two supporting stakes attached to tree with hessian ties.
Taking care of a new tree on your nature strip
Once a new tree has been planted on the nature strip residents can help to take care of these trees.
Residents can:
- Monitor the tree
- Water (approximately a half of a bucket/4.5litres once a week) the tree around the root zone
- Maintain stakes and/or tree guards*
- Be mindful when mowing and whipper snipping around the tree to avoid contact with the tree
- Leave enough space between the base of tree and grass (maintain about a 15cm distance)
- Contact the Council if you have any questions or concern about the tree
- *After two years, tree stakes along with the hessian ties, can be removed from the tree. Residents can reuse the stakes in their gardens or call Council for them to retrieve.
Residents are not able to:
- Remove the tree
- Prune tree
- Tie the tree to stakes with cable ties
- Plant other trees or ground cover near the tree base.
Nature Strip Maintenance
In urban areas the condition of the nature strip adjacent to our property provides a ‘leafy green and shaded’ zone between roads and pedestrian / shared pathways. Maintained nature strips helps to maintain the appearance and pride of your neighbourhood, adds real estate value and creates a safer environment.
It is the responsibility of the property owner/resident to maintain the nature strips directly outside their house. This includes front, side and rear grassed nature strips.
Where there is an instance of an overgrown grassed nature strip, Council will contact the property owners and direct them to tend to the nature strip as soon as possible and maintain it on a regular basis.