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At the Ordinary Meeting of 19 May 2026, Oberon Council resolved to place the reviewed Tree Policy on public exhibition for a period of 28 days, commencing 26 May 2026.
This policy was formerly the Trees on Council's Road Reserves Policy. As part of the review, the policy has been renamed and expanded to reflect the broadened scope and application within the Oberon Local Government Area
Summary of amendments to the policy:
Renaming the policy to better reflect scope
Introduces clear procedures for tree inspection, pruning, removal, and planting within road reserves
Establishes formalised referral and approval processes to improve consistency and accountability in decision-making
Integrates key strategic documents, including:
Oberon Street Tree Master Plan (urban areas)
Roadside Vegetation Management Plan (rural areas)
Ensures a coordinated, location-specific approach to tree management across the LGA
Updates the designated point of contact from the Director of Technical Services to the Works Manager to reflect current organisational structure
Provides a more structured, contemporary, and practical policy framework aligned with Council operations and community expectations
The report presented to Council and the revised policy are available for download in the Documents tab of this page. Community members are invited to review the updated policy and provide their submissions during the exhibition period.
Public submissions can be made below or sent via email to council@oberon.nsw.gov.au and must be received by the closure of the public exhibition period at 4:30pm on Friday 24 June 2026.
At the Ordinary Meeting of 19 May 2026, Oberon Council resolved to place the reviewed Tree Policy on public exhibition for a period of 28 days, commencing 26 May 2026.
This policy was formerly the Trees on Council's Road Reserves Policy. As part of the review, the policy has been renamed and expanded to reflect the broadened scope and application within the Oberon Local Government Area
Summary of amendments to the policy:
Renaming the policy to better reflect scope
Introduces clear procedures for tree inspection, pruning, removal, and planting within road reserves
Establishes formalised referral and approval processes to improve consistency and accountability in decision-making
Integrates key strategic documents, including:
Oberon Street Tree Master Plan (urban areas)
Roadside Vegetation Management Plan (rural areas)
Ensures a coordinated, location-specific approach to tree management across the LGA
Updates the designated point of contact from the Director of Technical Services to the Works Manager to reflect current organisational structure
Provides a more structured, contemporary, and practical policy framework aligned with Council operations and community expectations
The report presented to Council and the revised policy are available for download in the Documents tab of this page. Community members are invited to review the updated policy and provide their submissions during the exhibition period.
Public submissions can be made below or sent via email to council@oberon.nsw.gov.au and must be received by the closure of the public exhibition period at 4:30pm on Friday 24 June 2026.
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I have edited and Updated my submission. Submission – Tree Policy 4109
To Oberon Council,
I acknowledge the work undertaken to review and modernise Tree Policy 4109. The revised policy is clearer than the previous version and provides better guidance for routine planting, pruning and removal of trees within Council road reserves.
However, I do not believe the policy adequately addresses the issue that prompted many community concerns—the unnecessary or excessive pruning of roadside trees and the long-term protection of significant trees.
The policy explains how trees may be planted, pruned or removed, but it contains very little guidance about how trees should be protected before those decisions are made.
In particular, I believe the policy should include:
* stronger arboricultural standards for pruning works, * protection against unnecessary damage from slashing, grading and mechanical maintenance, * greater consideration of the long-term health and form of mature trees rather than simply achieving clearance requirements, * recognition that mature roadside trees provide environmental, landscape and biodiversity values that cannot quickly be replaced, * a requirement that alternatives be considered before significant pruning or removal is undertaken.
Many residents have expressed concern over trees being heavily lopped or disfigured during maintenance and utility works. While clearance around infrastructure is necessary, it should always be undertaken using recognised arboricultural practices that minimise long-term damage to the tree wherever reasonably practicable.
I also believe this policy highlights the need for Council to develop a separate Tree Protection Policy in the future.
Such a policy could address matters beyond routine maintenance, including the identification and protection of:
* heritage trees, * Aboriginal cultural trees, * colonial survey trees, * significant habitat trees, * rare or threatened species, * ancient and veteran trees, * commemorative and memorial plantings; and * other trees of exceptional environmental, historical or cultural significance.
These matters extend beyond routine roadside maintenance and deserve a dedicated policy focused on long-term protection rather than operational management.
For these reasons, I believe Policy 4109 requires further strengthening and should be considered as an operational management policy, with Council subsequently developing a broader Tree Protection Policy for the Oberon Local Government Area.
I have edited and Updated my submission.
Submission – Tree Policy 4109
To Oberon Council,
I acknowledge the work undertaken to review and modernise Tree Policy 4109. The revised policy is clearer than the previous version and provides better guidance for routine planting, pruning and removal of trees within Council road reserves.
However, I do not believe the policy adequately addresses the issue that prompted many community concerns—the unnecessary or excessive pruning of roadside trees and the long-term protection of significant trees.
The policy explains how trees may be planted, pruned or removed, but it contains very little guidance about how trees should be protected before those decisions are made.
In particular, I believe the policy should include:
* stronger arboricultural standards for pruning works,
* protection against unnecessary damage from slashing, grading and mechanical maintenance,
* greater consideration of the long-term health and form of mature trees rather than simply achieving clearance requirements,
* recognition that mature roadside trees provide environmental, landscape and biodiversity values that cannot quickly be replaced,
* a requirement that alternatives be considered before significant pruning or removal is undertaken.
Many residents have expressed concern over trees being heavily lopped or disfigured during maintenance and utility works. While clearance around infrastructure is necessary, it should always be undertaken using recognised arboricultural practices that minimise long-term damage to the tree wherever reasonably practicable.
I also believe this policy highlights the need for Council to develop a separate Tree Protection Policy in the future.
Such a policy could address matters beyond routine maintenance, including the identification and protection of:
* heritage trees,
* Aboriginal cultural trees,
* colonial survey trees,
* significant habitat trees,
* rare or threatened species,
* ancient and veteran trees,
* commemorative and memorial plantings; and
* other trees of exceptional environmental, historical or cultural significance.
These matters extend beyond routine roadside maintenance and deserve a dedicated policy focused on long-term protection rather than operational management.
For these reasons, I believe Policy 4109 requires further strengthening and should be considered as an operational management policy, with Council subsequently developing a broader Tree Protection Policy for the Oberon Local Government Area.
Helen Hayden
Councillor
Oberon Council