Council-Documented Arborist Reports & Development Projects
Find an Arbor Express Project Relevant to Your Tree or Development Issue
Need an arborist report for Council, a Development Application, tree removal, construction near retained trees or a council condition?
- AQF Level 5 and Level 9 arboricultural reports
- Examples verified against official council records
- Sydney and NSW
Verified Examples of Our Work
Arbor Express prepares AQF Level 5 and Level 9 arboricultural reports for homeowners, architects, developers, builders, planners, certifiers and other professionals across Sydney and NSW. Rather than asking you to read through a long list of reports, this page helps you find an Arbor Express project relevant to the problem you are dealing with.
The examples below are limited to matters for which the underlying official council or NSW Government material has been checked against the primary source and confirmed to identify Arbor Express or its report. Cases that have not yet met that standard are not included. Arbor Express prepares reports as part of the development and consulting process; where physical tree works are required, these are coordinated separately. Assessment outcomes are determined by the relevant council or authority, not by Arbor Express.
- Development Application Arborist Reports
- Arboricultural Impact Assessments
- Tree Removal Reports
- Tree Protection Plans
- Tree Protection Zone and Structural Root Zone assessments
- Root Investigations and Root Mapping
- Project Arborist services
- Construction monitoring
- Tree Risk and Health Assessments
- Arboricultural certification
Find a Project Like Yours
Select the issue affecting your project to jump directly to the most relevant examples.
Development Near Retained Trees
Building within or near a Tree Protection Zone does not automatically mean a tree has to be removed. An Arboricultural Impact Assessment can examine encroachment, tree condition, retention value, the Structural Root Zone and construction methodology to determine whether the tree and development can potentially coexist.
Hornsby: 14 Trees Beside Flood-Wall Works (DA/1035/2025)
Evidence level: Council Reliance. An Arbor Express Arboricultural Impact Assessment dated 18 May 2026 assessed trees adjoining proposed flood-wall works. Council's assessment records that the proposed northern flood wall was in the immediate vicinity of 14 trees and that the Arbor Express assessment concluded tree-sensitive construction methods could allow all 14 trees to be retained. Council's subsequent requirements addressed tree protection, tree-sensitive construction and Project Arborist monitoring.
Situation this represents: engineering or construction works are proposed close to multiple trees and the project needs a practical method of retaining them rather than simply removing them.
Inner West: 77 Glassop Street, Balmain (MOD/2024/0085)
Evidence level: Council Reliance. Further Arbor Express assessment identified a Tree Protection Zone of 8.4 metres and Structural Root Zone of 2.67 metres for Tree 10. The development design was subsequently amended, including relocation of infrastructure away from the tree-protection area. Council's Urban Forest team reviewed the amended arboricultural material and the Arbor Express report was referred to within consent conditions.
Situation this represents: your proposed development is too close to a significant tree and the design may need to respond to the arboricultural constraints.
Hornsby: High-Retention-Value Spotted Gum (2025 LPP matter)
Evidence level: Council Consideration. Hornsby Local Planning Panel documentation records an Arbor Express AIA assessing 23 trees. No trees were proposed for removal. Council's assessment specifically considered Tree 18, a high-retention-value Spotted Gum, together with the proposed development encroachment of less than 20% and tree-sensitive construction.
Situation this represents: a valuable mature tree conflicts with the preferred building envelope, but removal may not be the only solution.
TPZ and SRZ Conflicts
The Tree Protection Zone and Structural Root Zone are often critical when determining whether development can occur close to a retained tree. A calculated encroachment does not automatically determine the outcome.
Inner West: 77 Glassop Street, Balmain
Evidence level: Council Reliance. Further arboricultural assessment defined the TPZ and SRZ and was followed by changes to the development design.
Situation this represents: your architect or Council has identified a TPZ/SRZ conflict and needs arboricultural information before the design can progress.
Hornsby: Spotted Gum Retention
Evidence level: Council Consideration. Council considered development encroachment affecting a high-retention-value Spotted Gum together with tree-sensitive construction.
Situation this represents: the building enters the TPZ of an important tree and you need to determine whether development and tree retention are compatible.
Strathfield: 30-32 Courallie Avenue, Homebush West (DA2023/81)
Evidence level: Council Reliance. The approved documents table for this development names "Arboricultural Impact Assessment and Root Mapping Investigation — Arbor Express — 17 November 2023." Condition 19(g) of the consent ties Tree Protection Plan requirements to the root-mapping results, addressing driveway construction depth to avoid severing significant structural roots.
Situation this represents: calculated tree-protection constraints need physical root information before construction details can be finalised.
Root Investigation and Mapping
Sometimes calculations alone cannot answer the most important question: where are the roots actually located? Root investigation can help establish root location, size and depth before finalising construction near a retained tree, through AirSpade investigation, exploratory excavation, root mapping, root diameter recording, TPZ and SRZ assessment, construction recommendations and design advice following investigation.
Strathfield: 30-32 Courallie Avenue, Homebush West
Evidence level: Council Reliance. Official Strathfield Planning Panel material identifies the Arbor Express Arboricultural Impact Assessment and Root Mapping Investigation dated 17 November 2023. The consent condition links driveway construction requirements directly to the root-mapping results.
Situation this represents: a driveway or structure is proposed close to a tree and you need physical information about roots before deciding how it can be constructed.
City of Sydney: 46 Cope Street, Redfern
Evidence level: Council Documentation. City of Sydney development records include an Arbor Express root-mapping investigation undertaken using an AirSpade and hand tools. The investigation assessed root conditions within the Tree Protection Zone before construction.
Situation this represents: your plans show TPZ encroachment but you need to know what roots are actually present in the proposed construction area.
Driveways and Tree Roots
Driveways and vehicle crossings commonly create conflicts with established trees because excavation may occur within the root zone.
Strathfield: Homebush West
Evidence level: Council Reliance. The Arbor Express root-mapping investigation is identified in the approved development documents, and the Panel's condition addresses driveway construction depth directly in response to those results.
Situation this represents: a driveway, crossover or hard surface is proposed near a retained tree and root information is needed to help determine an appropriate construction method.
Street Trees and Development
A tree does not need to be inside your property to affect your DA. Council street trees can influence driveway locations, vehicle crossings, excavation, retaining walls, services, setbacks and construction access.
Northern Beaches: 1 Daisy Street, North Balgowlah (DA2025/0091)
Evidence level: Council Consideration. Northern Beaches Council's Landscape Referral discusses an Arbor Express assessment concerning impacts on two street trees. Council's landscape assessment records that the proposed works could proceed with acceptable impacts subject to arboricultural supervision and appropriate conditions.
Situation this represents: Council street trees influence the design and Council requires confidence that construction can proceed without unacceptable impacts.
Hornsby: Street-Tree Impacts (AIA19/11/2024)
Evidence level: Council Consideration. Hornsby records identify an Arbor Express AIA within a development involving proposed tree removal. Council officers also considered impacts associated with street Trees T1, T2 and T11.
Situation this represents: your development affects both trees on the property and Council trees outside the boundary.
Design Changes and Tree Retention
Sometimes the most useful outcome of arboricultural assessment is not tree removal. It is identifying how the design can change so the development and tree can coexist.
Inner West: Balmain
Further arboricultural assessment identified the tree's TPZ and SRZ. The development was subsequently amended, including relocation of infrastructure away from the tree-protection area.
Situation this represents: the preferred design conflicts with an important tree and the design team needs arboricultural information to investigate another solution.
Hornsby: Spotted Gum
Council considered development encroachment and tree-sensitive construction around a high-retention-value mature tree.
Situation this represents: the preferred design conflicts with an important tree and the design team needs arboricultural information to investigate another solution.
Tree Protection and Project Arborist Requirements
An arborist's involvement does not necessarily end when the DA is approved. Consent conditions can require ongoing arboricultural supervision during construction.
Hornsby: Tree Location / Protection Plan (Council Ref D09256512)
Evidence level: Council Reliance. Council records identify an Arbor Express Tree Location/Protection Plan and require Project Arborist involvement and tree-protection measures associated with retained Trees 34–50.
Situation this represents: Council has approved the project but requires a qualified arborist to supervise or monitor tree-related construction requirements.
City of Sydney: D/2024/46
Evidence level: Council Reliance. City of Sydney's Notice of Determination requires the recommendations, Tree Protection Plans and methodology contained in the Arbor Express report dated 11 March 2024 to be implemented during demolition, construction and use of the development. Related requirements address street-tree protection and arboricultural certification.
Situation this represents: the arborist report has become part of the development consent and its requirements need to be implemented during construction.
Engineering and Infrastructure Near Trees
Engineering works can create different tree impacts from ordinary building construction, including retaining walls, flood infrastructure, drainage, services, excavation, roads, driveways and changes in levels.
Hornsby: Flood-Wall Works
Evidence level: Council Reliance. The proposed flood wall was located close to 14 trees. The Arbor Express assessment concluded tree-sensitive construction could allow all 14 trees to be retained, with subsequent tree-protection and monitoring requirements.
Situation this represents: engineering infrastructure needs to be constructed close to established trees and the project requires a practical arboricultural construction response.
More Verified Council-Documented Arbor Express Projects
Not every project needs a long case study. These additional official records provide further examples of Arbor Express development arboriculture.
- City of Sydney, 43-49 Mountain Street, Ultimo: hosts Arbor Express AIA2502175 v4, prepared by Alex de Jong, AQF Level 5.
- Lane Cove Council, 18-20 Orion Road, Lane Cove West: Arbor Express AIA13/02/2025 v3, dated 17 March 2025.
- Lane Cove Council, 21-25 Austin Street, Lane Cove: Arbor Express AIA31/07/2025 v3, dated 10 October 2025.
- Lane Cove Council, 42 Cullen Street, Lane Cove West: Arbor Express AIA25/02/2026 v3, dated 12 March 2026.
- City of Ryde, 6 Pearl Street, West Ryde: hosts Arbor Express AIA5/04/2024 Final v2, dated 20 August 2024, prepared by Robert de Jong, AQF Level 5.
- Liverpool City Council, 9-11 Mill Road, DA-185/2022: lists an Arboricultural Impact Assessment prepared by Arbor Express dated 29 June 2023 among the development documents.
Browse Verified Projects by Council
What Does "Council-Documented" Mean?
Each example carries an evidence level reflecting what the official record actually shows.
A report simply appearing within a DA record is not presented as equivalent to a report whose recommendations become part of an assessment or consent.
- Council / Government Reliance: the official record shows Arbor Express findings, recommendations or tree-protection measures being incorporated into an assessment, design response, consent condition or determination.
- Council / Government Consideration: council officers, referral specialists or a Planning Panel formally discuss the Arbor Express report or its findings as part of the decision-making process.
- Council / Government Documentation: an Arbor Express report or Arbor Express involvement appears within official council or NSW Government development documentation.
Arborist Reports for Homeowners
You do not need to be undertaking a major development to require an arborist report. Homeowners commonly contact Arbor Express for the reasons listed.
We can identify the arboricultural issue and advise what form of assessment is appropriate.
- Council has requested an arborist report
- A protected tree is proposed for removal
- An extension is close to a tree
- A neighbouring tree may be affected
- A street tree affects a driveway
- Tree roots conflict with proposed construction
- Council requires further information
Arborist Reports for Architects and Designers
Early arboricultural advice can identify tree constraints before a design becomes difficult or expensive to change. We assist with the items listed.
The objective is to give the design team practical information about where the tree constraints exist and what options may be available.
- Preliminary tree assessments
- Tree surveys
- TPZ and SRZ calculations
- Retention-value assessments
- Root investigation
- Design review
- Arboricultural Impact Assessments
- Tree Protection Plans
Arborist Reports for Developers and Builders
Development projects can require arboricultural involvement from initial design through to completion.
Using the same arboricultural team throughout the project can provide continuity between the original assessment, approved plans, consent conditions and construction-stage requirements.
- 1Tree Survey
- 2Preliminary advice
- 3Arboricultural Impact Assessment
- 4Development Application
- 5Tree Protection Plan
- 6Project Arborist
- 7Construction monitoring
- 8Final certification
Independent Evidence Matters
Many arborist websites say they understand councils or have extensive development experience. This page takes a different approach.
Where official council or NSW Government records are publicly available, prospective clients can see examples of Arbor Express work documented within development applications, assessment reports, referrals and consent conditions.
We do not describe every official mention as Council reliance. The evidence level reflects what the official record actually demonstrates, checked against the primary source, not assumed from a summary. Additional projects will be added as their primary-source evidence is confirmed.
Need an Arborist Report for Council or Development?
Your first question does not always need to be: can the tree stay or does it have to go? More useful questions may be the ones listed.
- What impact will the proposed development have on the tree?
- What does Council require?
- Can the design be modified?
- Would root investigation provide better information?
- Is tree-sensitive construction possible?
- What arboricultural documentation is required to move the project forward?
Frequently Asked Questions
It means the official council or NSW Government record has been checked and confirmed to identify Arbor Express or its report. Each example is labelled with an evidence level, Reliance, Consideration or Documentation, reflecting what the record actually shows.
No. An Arboricultural Impact Assessment can examine encroachment, tree condition, retention value, the Structural Root Zone and construction methodology to determine whether the tree and development can potentially coexist.
Yes. Council street trees can influence driveway locations, vehicle crossings, excavation, retaining walls, services, setbacks and construction access, even though they sit outside your property.
When calculations alone cannot show where roots are actually located, for example where a driveway or structure is proposed close to a retained tree. Root investigation establishes root location, size and depth before construction details are finalised.
Not always. Consent conditions can require Tree Protection Plans, Project Arborist supervision, construction monitoring and arboricultural certification during and after construction.
The relevant council or authority. Arbor Express prepares the arboricultural assessment and reports, but assessment outcomes are determined by council, not by Arbor Express.
What Our Clients Say
Need an Arborist Report for Council or Development?
Arbor Express provides Arboricultural Impact Assessments, DA Arborist Reports, Tree Removal Reports, Tree Protection Plans, Root Investigation and Mapping, Project Arborist Services, and Tree Risk and Health Assessments across Sydney and NSW.