Do I need a council permit to remove a tree in Newport?
Yes, in most cases. Northern Beaches Council requires development consent before removing or significantly pruning any tree that is 5 metres or more tall, has a canopy spread of 5 metres or more, or a trunk diameter of 30 cm or more at 1 metre above ground. Native trees including Angophora costata — which are common throughout Newport — will typically require a permit. We assess this at the quoting stage and advise on whether consent is needed before any work begins.
Can you do crane-assisted removal for difficult access situations?
Yes. For Pittwater waterfront properties in Newport, crane work is often the right method — particularly where trees overhang jetties, boat ramps, neighbouring structures or water, and where there's no safe fell zone. We have experience coordinating crane lifts for large-scale removals in tight access situations. We'll recommend crane work where it's genuinely the safest and most practical approach, not just the easiest one to quote.
A tree on my property looks damaged after the last storm — what should I do?
Call us. Don't wait and hope it holds — storm-fractured limbs can fail without warning, often weeks after the initial event. We can come and assess the tree, tell you honestly whether there's a genuine hazard and what the best course of action is. If it's urgent, we'll tell you that clearly and get out quickly. If it can wait for a permit, we'll tell you that too. We'd rather you called unnecessarily than had something fall on your house or a neighbour.
How do I know if a tree actually needs to be removed or just pruned?
Honestly, a lot of trees that look like they need removing can be managed effectively with the right pruning. Crown reduction, deadwooding and structural pruning can resolve most common problems — overhanging limbs, excessive canopy near buildings, dead wood accumulation — without removing the tree entirely. Alex will give you a genuine assessment at the site visit. If removal is the right answer, he'll say so. If pruning will fix the problem, he'll say that too — even when it means less work for us.
