Q: I am building a new home (knock down/rebuild) and need to remove some trees however we’re having issues with Council regarding determining which trees are on boundary lines. Please could you help!
Bohmer says:
That’s a really difficult one to answer, especially when the Council think the trees are on their boundary line, which is also your boundary line.
A shared boundary line does make things awfully difficult when people want to remove trees and I suggest you contact your architect to get them to determine exactly where the boundary line is and then reapply to council as part of your DA to include trees that you want to remove, along with trees that may impact the construction project.
It’s better to identify all the trees at this stage, than having to think about it later when construction has started.
Perhaps you could also offer to replant several trees in their place, something that council also suggests; there are organizations that will plant trees on your behalf and then certify that they have done this for you (ie as proof for councils).
If this dilemma is between neighbours, then I would, in the first instance, suggest talking things through with them however if this doesn’t work then you may consider speaking to someone at a Community Justice Centre.
