A tree, shrub, grass or any other vegetation located on public land is protected by the Local Government Act 1993. Residents are not permitted to carry out pruning or removal of any Council street trees, or trees and any other managed vegetation within a nature strip, public reserve or park. The removal and/or pruning of any tree and/or vegetation without approval from Council is a breach of the Local Government Act 1993 and penalties may apply.

Council is responsible for the management of trees on Council land. You can request an inspection and assessment of a tree by:

• Contacting Council on 4654 7777,
• Emailing Council on mail@camden.nsw.gov.au or
• Lodging a request through the Camden Council Mobile App with a photograph.

Street Trees are managed by Council and residents are not permitted to plant trees within any nature strip, public reserve, or park.

Residents can request a street tree to be planted via Council's Street Tree Planting Program.

Council's Urban Tree and Landscape Officer will determine the suitability of the request.

Requests can be made by:

• Contacting Council on 4654 7777,
• Emailing Council on mail@camden.nsw.gov.au or
• Lodging a request through the Camden Council Mobile App with a photograph.

For new subdivisions and growth centre areas, Council requires the developer to plant trees as part of their wider construction requirements and enquires relating to the timing of street trees plantings in new release areas should be directed to your land developer or via their respective Sales Office.

Tree removal/pruning is determined under Part 2 of the new Biodiversity and Conservation SEPP State Environmental Planning Policy (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021 and Clause 2.4 of Camden Development Control Plan (DCP) 2019. Contact Council’s Urban Tree and Landscape Team on 4645 7777 with assistance in determining if any exemptions apply and work through the appropriate approval process as well as any other requirements relating to your proposal.

You can also access an online navigator developed by the NSW Office of Local Government to assist applicants and councils to work through which approval pathway applies to a development. 

Approval pathways for tree removal, tree pruning and vegetation clearing

What does the new Biodiversity and Conservation SEPP mean?

The new Biodiversity and Conservation SEPP was part of the NSW SEPP consolidation project. State environmental planning policies have been consolidated to align with themed focus areas to make the planning system more user friendly. The SEPP regulates planning rules and controls for the clearing of native vegetation in NSW that is not linked to development requiring consent. Generally, when clearing is part of development requiring consent it will be assessed as part of the development assessment process and may also require further assessment and approval under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

Fact sheet on the new consolidation here.

In cases where a proposed development is likely to have any biodiversity impacts on threatened species or threatened ecological communities, or exceeds the Biodiversity Offset Scheme (BOS) threshold or occurs on land identified on the Biodiversity Values Map (BVM) a Biodiversity Development Assessment Report (BDAR) will need to be prepared.

You can use these links to find out more about the BOS thresholds, the Biodiversity Values Map, and use the Biodiversity Values Map and Threshold (BMAT) Tool.

Tree Permit Application  

All tree work and vegetation clearing that is below the BOS thresholds or that is not located on land identified on the BVM requires a permit issued by Council except where vegetation is an exempt species, heritage item or an Aboriginal object or is located in a heritage conservation area or Aboriginal place of heritage significance.

Council will continue to regulate the clearing of vegetation, including native vegetation, below the BOS thresholds through specific requirements of Council’s Development Control Plan (DCP). The DCP also lists a number of exemptions that may apply under certain circumstances and may not require approval. 

Tree Development Application

You will only need to complete a Development Application to Prune/Remove Trees and Vegetation form if the vegetation is a heritage item, or an Aboriginal object, or is located in a heritage conservation area or Aboriginal place of heritage significance.

Any pruning or tree removal associated with development requiring consent should be included as part of that assessment process. 

Arboricultural Reports must be submitted with any Development Application for Commercial, Industrial, Subdivision, medium and high density residential Development. This includes Preliminary Assessment Report, Impact Assessment Report and Tree Protection Plan.

For other situations an arboricultural report can be submitted to accompany a development application or may be requested by Council’s Urban Forest Team. Types of reports include but not limited to, Health Assessment Report and Risk and Hazard Assessment Report.

This list provides the minimum requirements that are expected by Council for the submission and assessment of an Arboricultural Assessment Report.

Different Types of Reports:

• Preliminary Assessment Report
• Impact Assessment Report
• Tree Protection Plan
• Health Assessment Report
• Risk and Hazard Assessment Report

Download Arborist Report Requirements.

Landscaping Plans must be submitted with any Development Application for Commercial, Industrial, Subdivision, Waterfront/Riparian areas, rehabilitation of Ecological areas, medium and high density residential Development.

This list provides the minimum requirements that are expected by Council for the submission and assessment of a Landscape Plan.

Refer to Appendix B - Landscape Design Principles and Submission Requirements

The aim of Council's Tree Management Policy is to provide guidelines to ensure consistency in the management of tree assets and tree selection within the Camden Local Government Area.

Download the Tree Management Policy.

This list is to provide an indicative species palette suitable for planting in public and private open space within Camden Local Government Area (LGA). Download the Tree and Landscape Species List.