Arborist Reports in Wollongong
The report your council actually asked for, written so the application gets assessed rather than sent back for more information three weeks later.
What an arborist report is for
Councils do not take your word for it that a tree is dangerous, and they should not. An arborist report is an independent written assessment of a tree's health, structure and risk, prepared to a recognised methodology, that gives the assessing officer enough to make a decision.
Most people need one for a specific trigger. The common ones around the Illawarra are:
- A tree removal application where the tree is protected under your council's DCP and you need to justify removal.
- A development application where trees sit on or near the footprint and council wants to know what is being retained, removed and protected.
- Tree protection during construction, where a report sets the tree protection zone and the conditions the builder has to work to.
- A neighbour dispute, including applications under the Trees (Disputes Between Neighbours) Act 2006 in the Land and Environment Court.
- A pre-purchase inspection, because a failing tree on a block you are about to buy is your problem the moment you settle.
- An insurance claim, where the insurer wants a written opinion on why a tree failed.
What is actually in the report
A useful report is not a one-page letter saying the tree is bad. Ours covers:
- Species identification, dimensions, age class and an estimate of useful life expectancy.
- A structured health and structural condition assessment, recorded systematically rather than by impression.
- A visual tree assessment identifying defects: included bark, decay, cavities, fungal fruiting bodies, root plate condition, previous poor pruning.
- A risk assessment that considers the target, not just the tree. A leaning gum over a paddock is not the same problem as the same tree over a bedroom.
- Photographs, a site plan and, where relevant, the tree protection zone calculated to AS 4970-2009.
- A clear recommendation with alternatives, because councils want to see that removal was not the only option considered.
Written to your council's requirements
Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama each publish what they expect to see, and they differ. A report written for one is not automatically acceptable to another. We check the current requirements for the consent authority handling your application before we write, which is the single most common reason applications get returned.
An independent report is exactly that. If the tree is healthy and the risk is low, that is what the report will say, and that is the report you will get. We cannot write a conclusion to order, and any consultant who offers to is handing you a document the council has seen before and will not accept.
How long it takes
A standard single-tree report for a removal application is usually with you within five to seven working days of the site inspection. Development applications with multiple trees, protection zones and a site plan take longer, typically ten to fifteen working days depending on scope. If you are up against a submission deadline, tell us when you book and we will tell you honestly whether it is achievable.
What comes back in the document.
Council-ready format
Written to the current requirements of the consent authority assessing it, not a generic template.
Visual tree assessment
Systematic defect recording, not a walk-past. Decay, unions, root plate and previous pruning all documented.
AS 4970 protection zones
Tree protection zones calculated to the Australian Standard for development sites, with the conditions builders need.
Useful life expectancy
An evidence-based ULE rating, which is the figure most councils weigh the hardest.
Photographs and site plan
Annotated photos and a plan so the assessing officer can see what you are describing.
Honest timeframes
Five to seven working days for a standard report. We tell you up front if your deadline is not realistic.
How the job actually runs.
Tell us what triggered it
Council application, DA, dispute, pre-purchase or insurance. The trigger decides what the report has to contain.
We confirm the requirements
We check what the relevant council or court expects for that application type before the inspection, not after.
Site inspection
A full visual tree assessment on site, with measurements, defect recording and photographs. Usually 45 to 90 minutes per tree.
The report is written
Findings, risk assessment, options considered and a clear recommendation, with plan and photos attached.
Lodgement support
If council comes back with questions, we respond to them. That is part of the job, not a new one.
Arborist Reports, answered.
How much does an arborist report cost?
A single-tree report for a removal application typically runs $350 to $650. Multi-tree development application reports with protection zones and a site plan start around $900 and scale with the number of trees and the complexity of the site. You get a fixed price before we start.
Will the report say what I want it to say?
It will say what the tree is doing. If the tree is sound, the report will record that, and we will tell you before we write it so you are not paying for a document that does not help you. An independent report only has value to a council because it is independent.
Do I need a report for every tree removal?
No. Dead trees, many weed species such as camphor laurel and cocos palm, and trees below your council's size threshold are often exempt. Properties inside a mapped 10/50 bushfire entitlement area have a separate pathway again. We check first and will tell you if you do not need one.
Can you write a report for a Land and Environment Court matter?
We prepare reports for applications under the Trees (Disputes Between Neighbours) Act 2006. Be aware the Court has its own expectations of expert evidence, including the expert witness code of conduct, and we will discuss the scope with you before accepting that work.
My builder needs a tree protection plan. Is that the same thing?
Related but not identical. A tree protection plan sets the tree protection zone to AS 4970-2009 and the conditions construction has to work within: fencing, ground protection, no-dig areas and supervision hold points. We prepare those as part of a development report or as a standalone document.
Get a fixed price on your arborist reports.
Free site visit anywhere inside our 50km radius, quote back the same day, no pressure to book.