Vegetation and tree removal

As well as the information on this page, you can use the NSW Office of Local Government's biodiversity assessment and approvals navigator to help identify if/which approvals apply to your vegetation clearing.

The State Environmental Planning Policy (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021 only applies to non-rural land under the Eurobodalla Local Environmental Plan 2012. This includes land zoned: RU5, R2, R3, R5, B1, B2, B4, B5, IN1, SP1, SP2, SP3, RE1, RE2, C2, or C4.

If your land is zoned RU1 or RU4, the Local Land Services Act 2016 applies - contact the South East Local Land Services office for more information.

Check the zoning of your land

• You can check the zoning of your land via the NSW Planning Portal.
• You can check if your property is excluded by the native vegetation regulatory map - and therefore non-rural - on the native vegetation regulatory map.

If vegetation removal is below the minimum lot size clearing threshold and not on the biodiversity values map you may need a permit from Council (see next section on this page, 'How do I apply to Council for a permit to remove vegetation'). Contact the Development Help Desk for advice:

• E: Development Help Desk
• T: 4474 1231

If the vegetation is mapped on the biodiversity values map, or the area of clearing exceeds the thresholds, you may need approval from the Native Vegetation Panel.

• For more information, contact the South East Local Land Services office.

Minimum lot sizes and clearing thresholds

If the minimum lot size related to the property is:

• less than 1 hectare, then the clearing threshold is 0.25 hectares or more
• 1 hectare up to 40 hectares, then the clearing threshold is 0.5 hectares or more
• 40 hectares up to 1000 hectares, then the clearing threshold is 1 hectare or more
• 1000 hectares or more, then the clearing threshold is 2 hectares or more.

First you should check our Tree Preservation Code to see if it applies to your proposed vegetation removal.

If the code applies, you'll need to complete an application form for a permit to remove or prune trees. A permit will only be approved if you can meet the criteria in the Tree Preservation Code.

• Council's Tree Preservation Code (1.3 MB)
• Tree removal application form (917.2 KB)
  Complete all sections of the application and include a detailed plan showing the property and location of the tree(s), access road, north point, distance from boundaries and buildings and a description of the trees or vegetation proposed for removal.

Apply to Council for a permit to remove vegetation:

1. Complete a tree removal application form. This must be signed by the land owner.
2. Mark all vegetation proposed to be removed on site.
3. Prepare a tree plan showing all trees and native vegetation on the site and what is proposed for removal.
4. Obtain required evidence eg, an arborist report and/or an assessment of the significance of the impacts to threatened species or ecological communities.
5. Submit the form, tree plan, supporting evidence and the processing fee to Council.
6. A Council representative will inspect the site and the vegetation proposed to be removed.
7. Council will assess the application and advise you of the outcome within 28 days.

Fees and lodgement

The fees for a tree removal application are listed in our current fees and charges:

• Council's fees and charges - 2024/2025 (1.3 MB)

You'll need to pay the application fee when lodging your application with Council:

• in person: at Council's customer service centre, corner of Vulcan Street and Campbell Street, Moruya between 8.30am and 4.30pm. Please arrive before 4pm so there is sufficient time to check and lodge your application.
  You will also need to pay your application fees at the time of lodgement.
• by email: council@esc.nsw.gov.au
• by post: Eurobodalla Shire Council, PO Box 99 Moruya NSW 2537.

Vegetation clearing or pruning that does not require a permit from Council or approval from the Native Vegetation Panel, may still need a licence from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water if the tree is a threatened species, habitat for threatened species (eg, hollows in trees, within a flying-fox camp), or forms part of a threatened ecological community.

Possible threatened ecological communities, and known flying-fox camps in the Eurobodalla local government area are shown on our land-mapping system.

Council is responsible for taking reasonable measures, within budget limitations, to manage the risks arising from trees on all land under Council's control.

We manage all requests to remove or prune trees on public land in line with our Tree Risk Management on Council Controlled Land Policy and Code of Practice. This code of practice informs how we deal with your request.

• Tree Risk Management on Council-Controlled Land Policy (251.9 KB)
• Tree Risk Management on Council Controlled Land Code of Practice (675.7 KB)

If you have any concerns about a certain tree, contact us:

• by post: Eurobodalla Shire Council, PO Box 99 Moruya NSW 2537
• by email: Council