You cannot plant a tree or other vegetation on public land without permission from Council. While planting by residents may be meant well, there are a number of problems that can arise from plantings that have not undergone adequate planning and assessment. Some issues that may arise from unauthorised planting include:
- Obscuring vision for vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
- Inconsistency with Council plantings and plans of management.
- Future damage to Council and/or private property.
- Public liability claims and the added difficulty of ongoing maintenance, for example inappropriate species planted near powerlines.
What will happen if I plant a tree on public land without Council authorisation?
Once Council has been notified of the unauthorised planting, we will consult with residents to reach a suitable outcome by looking at options such as pruning or transplanting.
However, if there are no alternatives, Council reserves the right to remove inappropriately planted vegetation and replant (where possible) with more suitable vegetation consistent with Council's policies.
For more information about trees on public land, click here.