Council Tree Reports for DA and CDC Applications – Newcastle NSW
Planning an extension, pool, dual occupancy or knockdown-rebuild in Newcastle? If there are trees on or near your site, a tree report is generally required before your DA or CDC is approved.
This page is designed to help first-time property owners understand when a DA Tree Report is required, what it includes and how the process works. For more detailed technical information, see Arboricultural Impact Assessment.
What Is a Tree Report for a DA?
A tree report is a formal assessment of the trees on your property, prepared by an AQF Level 5 arborist and submitted with your Development Application or CDC to Newcastle City Council.
It answers three questions Council needs before your DA can proceed:
- What trees are on your site and how significant are they?
- How does your proposed development affect those trees?
- What needs to happen to protect or manage them through construction?
Where trees are present on or adjacent to your development site, Newcastle City Council generally requires an AQF Level 5 arborist report before a DA or CDC can be properly assessed. DCP 2023 commenced 1 March 2024. We check your property against the Urban Forest Technical Manual and DCP 2023, confirm what applies, and prepare the report.
When Do You Need a Tree Report?
A tree report is typically required when your project involves:
- Building or extending near existing trees on your property
- A pool, shed or outbuilding near a tree's root zone
- Removing a tree that may be protected under DCP 2023
- A knockdown-rebuild where trees are on or adjacent to the site
- Works within a Tree Protection Zone (TPZ) - the protected area around a tree's roots
- A property within a Heritage Conservation Area - additional Heritage Minor Works Permit required
- Trees within 100m of a Biodiversity Conservation SEPP 2021 wetland - Native Vegetation Removal Permit required
- A prior DA that required tree retention on your lot - modification application may be needed
Not sure if your trees are affected? We check DCP 2023 and the Urban Forest Technical Manual for your specific address and confirm before any works proceed.
What Your Tree Report Includes
A tree report prepared for a Newcastle DA or CDC typically covers:
- Identification and mapping of all trees on and near your property
- Assessment of each tree's health, structure and condition
- Tree Protection Zone (TPZ) and Structural Root Zone (SRZ) calculations
- Assessment of how your proposed development affects each tree
- Recommendations - which trees can be retained, which may need removal, and how retained trees are protected during construction
- DCP 2023 and Urban Forest Technical Manual compliance confirmed
- A site plan showing tree locations, TPZs and proposed works
How the Process Works
- Contact us with your address and a brief description of your project
- We confirm what Newcastle City Council requires and provide a fixed-price quote, before any inspection is booked
- We visit your property and assess all trees – typically within a few days
- We prepare your Council-compliant report. Most reports within 3-4 business days of site inspection
- Your report is ready to submit with your DA or CDC application
We handle the assessment and all the documentation. Fast-track available for urgent DA and CDC deadlines.
What to Expect by Area in Newcastle
Inner City – Newcastle East, Cooks Hill, The Hill, Bar Beach, Merewether, The Junction
Heritage Conservation Areas apply across much of inner Newcastle. A Heritage Minor Works Permit is often required in addition to the standard DCP 2023 tree report.
Inner West – Hamilton, Hamilton South, Mayfield, Islington, Wickham, Carrington, Maryville
Active infill and dual occupancy. Mature street trees are frequently within the root zone of proposed works - particularly in Hamilton, Mayfield and Islington.
Western Suburbs – Adamstown, New Lambton, Kotara, Lambton, Waratah, Georgetown, Elermore Vale
Established blocks with large Brushbox and eucalypts. Many trees are larger and more protected than owners expect. Dual occupancy and subdivision activity is increasing.
Northern Growth Corridor – Fletcher, Maryland, Minmi, Wallsend, Beresfield, Shortland
New estates alongside older established streets. Tree reports are required for most new DA and CDC applications - both DA and CDC applications.
Why Newcastle Property Owners Choose Us
- AQF Level 5 Consulting Arborists supported by advanced investigation and diagnostic services - Resistograph, AirSpade and aerial surveillance
- All services in-house – no subcontracting, no delays
- DCP 2023 and Urban Forest Technical Manual compliant – current rules, not outdated practice
- We confirm what applies to your property before you commit to anything
- Fast-track available. Most reports within 3-4 business days
Working with a Builder or Architect?
Working with a builder, architect or certifier on your project? Send them to our Arboricultural Impact Assessment page. Everything they need for the arboricultural sections of your DA, written for people who already know what a DA involves.
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