This serves as a general guide; however, please directly contact the council for the most up-to-date information as regulations may change periodically.

Monash City Council – 9518 3555

Monash council includes:

Ashwood, Burwood, Chadstone, Clayton, Glen Waverley, Hughesdale, Huntingdale, Mount Waverley, Mulgrave, Notting Hill, Oakleigh, Oakleigh East, Oakleigh South, Pinewood, Syndal and Wheelers Hill.

Tree Removal Permit

To Apply Now – https://www.monash.vic.gov.au/Planning-Development/Planning/Vegetation-Protection-Overlay

Certain zones within the City of Monash are subject to a Vegetation Protection Overlay (VPO). This overlay serves the purpose of conserving the current vegetation, fostering the regrowth of native plants and trees, and both maintaining and improving habitat conditions for native wildlife.

Vegetation Protection Overlay (VPO): https://www.monash.vic.gov.au/Planning-Development/Planning/Vegetation-Protection-Overlay

If there’s no Vegetation Protection Overlay (VPO) in place, you generally won’t need a permit to remove a tree, unless there’s a specific tree retention clause outlined in a planning development.

Which you can check out here – https://www.monash.vic.gov.au/Planning-Development/Planning/Vegetation-Protection-Overlay

If your property is in a protected area, a planning permit is needed to remove or destroy vegetation that is higher than 10m and has a trunk circumference greater than 50cm (16cm diameter) at 120cm above ground level.

If your property is within a Vegetation Protection Overlay

A permit is required to remove or destroy any vegetation that:

• Has a trunk circumference greater than 500mm (160mm diameter) at 1200mm above ground level, and
• Is higher than 10 metres

This does not apply to:

• dead vegetation
• Vegetation that presents an immediate risk to personal injury or damage to property – but only the part that presents the risk can be removed
• the following species:
  • all willow trees
  • radiata or monterey pines
  • evergreen alders
  • sweet pittosporums
  • desert ashes.

Exception:

42.02-3 The requirement to obtain a permit does not apply where it presents an immediate risk of personal injury or damage to property. Only that part of the vegetation that presents the immediate risk may be removed, destroyed or lopped under this exemption.

Vic Smart Application

Checklist of VicSmart Applications – See Checklist 7: Remove, destroy or lop one tree

https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0036/94779/VicSmart-Checklists-for-VicSmart-Applications.pdf

Guide to lodging VicSmart Application https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0032/94775/Applicants-Guide-to-Lodging-a-VicSmart-Application.pdf

No fee for tree removal application.

Arborist report not mandatory, but can help cause.

Overall, the council will be looking for evidence that the tree is:

• in declining health or at the end of its life
• not significant and does not contribute to amenity of the property/area