Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Aug 29, 2009 8:58 pm Hi everyone, Hoping for some advice! We have a small courtyard (4m long x 6m wide) at the back of our townhouse in Sydney which faces North. The rear of the townhouse has a sliding door which is about 1.5m off ground level. Currently we have a raised deck which you step onto when you exit the door. Here's the catch.. We also have a very tall Tallow wood tree (Eucalyptus Microcorys) that is probably 30m high if not more. The trunk is about 2m in circumference and it continues to grow bigger and taller every year. The tree is about 2.7m away from the sliding door. About 5 years ago we had part of the area under the tree paved, and left a good 20cm around the tree trunk to allow for the tree to expand. Well not only did it expand, it's gone crazy and now all the pavers have lifted and are very unsafe. The tree is 1.3m from a fence to the back and side, and our closest neighbour is 4m to the north of the tree (on the other side of the back fence). So.. here's the question.. We had thought about reconfiguring our deck and were intending on cutting out a section of deck and putting a bench seat around the tree with lighting up the tree. However, given the amount that the tree has grown over the last few years I'm wondering whether this is a good idea as it may need to be redone in only a few years. We had also thought about asking council to approve removal of the tree but given that it is a native we think our chances are probably zero. We'd like to replace it with another native, perhaps one of a more appropriate size for a small courtyard! So, do you have any advice as to either a) how to landscape around this tree, or b) work on how to obtain approval to remove the tree? Thanks! Re: Problem Tree? 2Aug 29, 2009 9:07 pm TwoFatKitties Hi everyone, We had also thought about asking council to approve removal of the tree but given that it is a native we think our chances are probably zero. We'd like to replace it with another native, perhaps one of a more appropriate size for a small courtyard! So, do you have any advice as to either a) how to landscape around this tree, or b) work on how to obtain approval to remove the tree? Thanks! You might be suprised, why not give it a go, get a Council Inspector out, he may just approve it if you agree to replace it with another native...call them, you just never know. It's worth a try, then if the answer is no, you can ask them for further advice. www.themaxbuild.blogspot.com forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20717&start=300 www.leahspaperpassion.blogspot.com Re: Problem Tree? 3Aug 29, 2009 9:12 pm A good person to get in touch with is Angus from Gardening Australia. Phone his radio programme. He is a leading expert on NSW natives. Clearly this tree (a beautiful thing too) is in a poor location. This stands to leave a significant risk of damage and injury to persons and property. I would also get the opinion of a local qualified member of the National Arbourists Association. Chances are these people will have much higher qualifications than the Head Hort for your local council. Only because this is a very specialised area of Horticulture. http://naaa.net.au/ These are the guys and girls you need to have come and take a look. http://naaa.net.au/index.php?option=com ... &Itemid=36 They should be able to do a site appraisal and report on the tree and it's likelyhood of causing injury or damage to property. Once you have that, present it to council and because you have done the work for them they can make an educated decision. You will also know a whole lot more about your tree If you don't do this, then they will give the default answer and say no. Too hard, not sure... No Do their work and it may well be very different. Then we can work out what to do with that area pending the decision Oh and don't forget to make use of the Homeone resource Just make sure they also appear in the members link I posted Very important http://www.homeone.com.au/sydney/treeservices/ Re: Problem Tree? 6Aug 29, 2009 10:34 pm Ooooh that's handy to know themax .. do you know anyone in council who would be open to permitting removal of a large Eucalypt? On a more serious note, I actually have no objection to keeping the tree.. but I have some concern that this tree is going to be massive and will take over the garden! Not to mention the fact that every time we have a windy day I worry I'll end up with a tree in my bedroom. I'm all up for bringing the outdoors in but that's just a bit much. Thanks also for the tips Fu Manchu, I'll be calling an arborist first thing Monday morning. 2fk Re: Problem Tree? 7Aug 30, 2009 8:31 am Sorry TFK, if I DID know someone I am sure that I would be everyone's best friend! Good luck with the Arborist. Love to know how you get on with it all. www.themaxbuild.blogspot.com forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20717&start=300 www.leahspaperpassion.blogspot.com Re: Problem Tree? 8Sep 10, 2009 4:27 pm Hi TFK, Also see the IACA website (Institute of Australian Consulting Arboriculturists) at http://www.iaca.org.au/. IACA's members are independant and not linked to companies who cut trees down. Generally you need an AQF level 5 Arborist to submit reports to council, all IACA's members are qualified to this level. I hope this post is not to late to assist! Re: Problem Tree? 9Sep 10, 2009 9:43 pm An excellent link and I hope you can hang around for some advice at Homeone. 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