Street tree pruning: responding to community concerns

Published on 12 June 2026

Local street trees provide shade, cooling, habitat and neighbourhood character – and we, along with our community, value them highly.

We have heard recent concerns about the pruning and management of some mature street trees, particularly in Heidelberg and other areas of Banyule. We want to directly address some of the key questions being asked and provide key facts on how we manage these trees.

Key facts

• We inspect more than 60,000 street trees each year.
• On average, less than 0.5% of street trees are removed annually.
• If a tree is removed, it is generally dead or at the end of its useful life.
• If a tree is removed, we will replace it with a suitable variety.

Is it true that we are removing or pruning approximately 900 trees?

We are not undertaking a mass removal of healthy street trees.

Trees are assessed individually, taking into account their condition, structure, location, surrounding infrastructure and road conditions.

Sometimes, a tree is identified for significant pruning or removal where no other options are available.

Why do we need to remove street trees?

Tree removal is always our last resort, but sometimes it is needed to keep streets safe and maintain a healthy urban forest.

On average, less than 0.5% of Banyule’s total 74,000 street tree population is removed each year. This generally occurs where trees are dead, dying, at the end of their useful life, or presenting an unacceptable safety risk.

Under our legislated road management responsibilities, trees must be managed so there is 4.5 metres of clear space above the usable road area. This helps allow vehicles such as waste trucks, buses and emergency services to travel safely on our roads.

Trees may also be removed when they are unsuitable for their location – for example, where they impact infrastructure such as services or powerlines, or where their long-term health and growth cannot be sustained.

How do we decide if a tree needs to be removed?

If a tree is healthy but does not meet legislated road clearance requirements, we generally follow a staged approach to retain the tree wherever possible:

1. Pruning: If part of a tree hangs over the road and is below the required clearance height, we will generally prune the tree where it is safe and practical to do so.
2. Other options: If pruning is not viable, we will explore engineered solutions such as extending kerbs or realigning roads.
3. Removal: If pruning and engineering solutions are not possible, we may need to remove the tree. This is not a decision we take lightly.

Are trees replaced?

If a tree needs to be removed, we will plant an established and suitable species in its place, generally within 12 months.

We also regularly plant suitable trees along roads to help achieve our tree canopy cover target of 30% by 2050. Since 2022, we have planted more than 10,000 trees along road reserves, with a further 3,500 trees planned for planting in 2026.

Do we consult the community before trees are removed?

We acknowledge residents want clearer information about how these decisions are made and when street tree works are planned near their homes.

We will continue to engage with affected residents and provide further information when trees are planned for removal.

While we cannot proactively publish arborist assessments for every tree that requires pruning or removal, residents can contact us if they have questions about a specific street tree.

What can I do if I am concerned about a street tree?

If you are concerned about a street tree, you can submit us a report.

You can also request a street tree planting.

Please note that residents should not prune or remove trees. We manage street trees so they can be assessed safely and consistently.