Tree FAQs

What are the benefits of urban trees?

• Trees and gardens on your street can boost property values by up to 30 per cent.
• The presence of trees improves our mental and physical health.
• Trees increase social resilience and decrease crime rates
• The more trees in a suburb the cleaner the air we breathe, leaves in trees act as natural filters, by removing dust and pollution particles.
• Trees cool the surrounding air through transpiration and can lower the street temperature by up to 10 degrees celsius. This can lower your home's cooling costs by more than 10% annually.
• Tree canopy intercepts heavy rain slowing peak storm water flows and allowing the ground and roots within it to soak up water, both functions reduce local flooding.
• Trees provide homes, shelter, and food for birds and other wildlife directly increasing urban biodiversity.
• Shade from trees preserves and extends life of bitumen pavements, painted surfaces, vehicle trims and finishes.

Will council clean up after messy trees?

• Council will not attend requests to sweep tree litter from private property. All trees drop leaves, flowers, seed, small limbs and shed bark in varying amounts and requests of this nature do not require officer attendance via a tree assessment or maintenance request. Gutter cleaning and maintenance are the responsibility of property owners to ensure homes and buildings remain safe and undamaged.
• We understand trees can be messy, and we encourage the use of your green waste bin to collect leaves and debris. Ageing residents may be able to access the Home Assist service to provide support in managing leaf mess, please contact customer service on 8391 7200.
• We have regular street sweeping maintenance programs (on a 10-week cycle) to help keep main street footpaths and roads clear of leaves and debris. During autumn leaf fall we may visit know problems areas or areas of high traffic on a more frequent program.

Will council prune the tree in front of my property?

• Members of the public are not permitted to prune, alter, or damage any trees on public land.
• If a council tree is overhanging your property, you can request a pruning assessment. Generally speaking, a tree simply overhanging a property boundary does not warrant pruning. If our arborist decides pruning is required, then only the amount required will be trimmed.
• Our arborists are responsible for maintaining street and reserve trees in the Mount Barker District area in line with Australian Standard 4373-2007 pruning of amenity trees. Councils tree maintenance programs are focused on managing risk also keeping footpaths and roads clear. If you think a tree requires pruning, please make a request via council's Customer Service Team on 8391 7200 and council will send a qualified arborist to inspect the tree and determine what work may be required.
• If the tree is in a new build property, it is the responsibility of the developer/builder to prune as part of the development approval. Please contact your developer/builder.

The tree outside my property is a problem, will council remove it?

• Trees provide many benefits for the entire community and are rarely removed. Council will not remove a healthy and sound tree due to nuisance, or dislike. If you are concerned about any potential hazards related to the tree in front of your property, you can notify us by calling council's Customer Service Team on 8391 7200 and we will send a qualified arborist to inspect the tree and determine what works may be required.

The tree outside my property is lifting my driveway, what can I do?

• Driveways and crossovers are the responsibility of the property owner.
• Should you wish to proceed with the lifting and relaying of your driveway or paved areas, please contact Council so that root inspection can be scheduled in conjunction with your works.

What happens if a tree is vandalised?

• Please don’t hesitate to report a vandalised tree by calling council's Customer Service on 8391 7200 and council will send a qualified arborist to assess the tree and make a determination of appropriate action.

I’m thinking of installing solar, will council prune or remove trees to increase sunlight?

• Council will not prune or remove trees that shade existing or proposed solar panels.
• Micro-invertor technology allows for better solar performance in shaded conditions.

Does council provide mulch for residents?

• We use mulch generated from council pruning and removal programs in our garden beds and reserves across the district. However, during wet months when access onto our reserves is limited mulch is left at the Windmill Hill Transfer Station where it can be purchased by members of the public.
• Council’s Windmill Hill Transfer Station also processes clean green material that is collected at the site through its free clean green waste days this is processed into a commercial grade mulch and is available for purchase at the Windmill Hill site.

Can I plant a tree in my verge?

• This activity is encouraged with a permit. It is mandatory to obtain a Local Government Act Section 221 permit before making any alterations to a verge or road which includes planting trees.
• Council is supportive to planting trees on verges, but it must be undertaken with careful consideration to numerous factors. If you wish to have a tree planted on your verge, please submit a request by calling council's Customer Service Team on 8391 7200.

Does council prune trees around power lines?

• South Australian Power Networks (SAPN) is required by legislation to regularly inspect and clear trees around power lines. This ensures we have safe and reliable access to electricity, reduces the risk of downed power lines, outages, and bushfires.
• Council does not undertake this work; it is completed by SAPN and their contractors. You can find out more about SAPN tree management on their website. 

What are native vegetation trees?

• Any tree determined to be not planted (remnant) and indigenous to the area is a tree considered ‘native vegetation’ for the purpose of the Native Vegetation Act and is protected under state government legislation. For more information visit the Department of Environment and Water website.

What are regulated and significant trees?

• A Regulated Tree is any tree with a circumference of 1 metre or more (when measured 1 metre above ground level). In the case of trees that have multiple trunks, this also includes tree which have trunks with a total circumference of 1 m or more and an average circumference of 310 mm or more.
• A Significant Tree is any tree with a circumference of 2 metres or more (when measured 1 metre above ground level). In the case of trees that have multiple trunks this also includes tree which have trunks with a total circumference of 2 metres or more and an average circumference of 625 millimetres or more when measured 1 metre above natural ground level.
• Regulated and significant trees are also protected under state government legislation via the Planning, Development & Infrastructure (PDI) Act. For more information, visit the Plan SA website.

What Happens When a Street/Roadside Tree Falls Across a Private Fence and into My Property?