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Council-ready protection measures for retained trees before and during construction
A Tree Protection Plan identifies how retained trees will be protected before and during construction, defining Tree Protection Zones, Structural Root Zones, fencing, exclusion areas, access controls and other site-specific measures.
A Tree Protection Plan is a site-specific arboricultural document showing how trees identified for retention will be protected during development and construction. It may identify retained trees, Tree Protection Zones, Structural Root Zones, protection fencing and signage, ground, trunk or branch protection where required, approved access and exclusion areas, excavation and service controls, and arboricultural inspection or hold points.
Tree Protection Plans are commonly prepared following a Development Arborist Report, DA Arborist Report or Arboricultural Impact Assessment and may form part of Development Application documentation or a condition of Development Consent. The purpose is to convert arboricultural recommendations into practical protection measures that can be understood and implemented on site.
Wherever practicable, the same AQF Level 5 Consulting Arborist who prepares your Development Arborist Report or AIA can prepare the Tree Protection Plan and continue as Project Arborist during construction.
Development assessment or approval, Tree Protection Plan, protection measures, construction monitoring, compliance and completion.
Prepared for the actual site, retained trees and proposed construction methodology rather than using a generic template.
Fencing, signage, ground, trunk and branch protection, exclusion areas and access controls installed before relevant site works begin.
Where ongoing arboricultural monitoring is required, the plan identifies relevant inspection or hold points.
Construction-stage monitoring and certification are undertaken by the Project Arborist where required.
A TPP may be required where demolition, excavation, construction, access or service installation could affect trees to be retained, commonly where proposed works are within or near a Tree Protection Zone or Structural Root Zone.
A Tree Protection Plan may be prepared during Development Application assessment, following Development Consent, or before demolition or construction begins. Where tree protection is a condition of consent, the plan should be prepared early enough for required measures to be installed before relevant site works begin.
Each Tree Protection Plan is prepared for the actual site, retained trees and proposed construction methodology rather than using a generic template. Depending on the project, it may address tree identification and retention, Tree Protection Zones, Structural Root Zones, tree protection fencing, protection signage, ground protection, trunk and branch protection, machinery and vehicle exclusion, approved access routes, material and waste storage controls, excavation and trenching controls, service installation and root protection.
Where appropriate, tree-protection requirements can be shown against site, architectural or construction plans so fencing, exclusion areas, access routes and other controls are clearly located for builders and contractors.
The Tree Protection Zone provides an area intended to protect the tree and its growing environment during development. The Structural Root Zone relates particularly to the roots important to tree stability.
Liverpool's Tree Management Technical Guidelines apply a stricter standard to the SRZ: no work of any kind is typically permitted within it unless extensive, non-destructive investigation has been carried out and directed by an AQF Level 5 Consulting Arborist to confirm the proposed works will not harm the tree.
Protection fencing is generally expected to be installed before site works begin, and there should be no cultivation of existing soils within the TPZ. Where landscape planting is proposed within a TPZ, Council expects only newly imported, manufactured topsoil 100 to 200mm thick, not topsoil sourced from elsewhere or of unknown origin.
A Tree Protection Plan shows these zones against the proposed development and identifies the protection measures required during construction. If root location cannot be determined accurately from above ground, non-destructive root investigation may provide more detailed information.
Tree Root Investigation & MappingConstruction can damage retained trees through excavation, trenching, vehicle movement, material storage, changes to soil levels, service installation, concrete washout, heavy machinery and root damage.
A Tree Protection Plan identifies practical measures to minimise these risks while allowing construction to proceed efficiently, applying relevant tree-protection principles from the applicable edition of AS 4970, Protection of Trees on Development Sites, to the individual site. This can include protection zones, fencing and signage, ground, trunk or branch protection where required, excavation and access controls, service installation controls and monitoring requirements.
Tree Protection Zones and Structural Root Zones are generally intended to remain free of activity that could compact soil, damage roots or affect the tree's growing environment. Under general AS 4970 protection principles, this typically means excavation, trenching, vehicle and machinery access, material and waste storage, changes to ground levels, and unauthorised services should be kept outside these areas unless specifically assessed and approved.
Liverpool's Technical Guidelines do not publish an itemised exclusion list the way some councils do, but they are explicit on the two points that matter most: no cultivation within the TPZ, and no work within the SRZ without prior non-destructive investigation directed by an AQF Level 5 Consulting Arborist. Where a proposed activity is not clearly addressed by these provisions, it should be assessed individually rather than assumed permitted.
For tight development sites, a conventional fenced exclusion zone may conflict with approved access, existing structures or construction sequencing. Where standard fencing genuinely is not practical, alternative measures may need to be specified, including ground protection, trunk protection, branch protection, controlled access or modified construction methods, consistent with general AS 4970 practice for constrained sites.
Liverpool's Technical Guidelines do not set out a specific alternative-fencing provision beyond the SRZ position above, so any departure from standard fencing should be designed or directed by an AQF Level 5 Consulting Arborist and confirmed against the applicable Development Consent conditions before construction begins.
Tree protection is most useful when it can be understood spatially by the people working on site. Where appropriate, Tree Protection Plans can be coordinated with site plans, architectural plans, demolition plans, landscape plans, engineering drawings and service layouts. This allows tree protection fencing, exclusion areas, access routes and construction constraints to be considered alongside the proposed works, and can help identify conflicts before construction begins.
Council-ready Tree Protection Plans across the whole Liverpool Local Government Area.
Liverpool CBD, Warwick Farm, Casula, Chipping Norton, Moorebank, Hammondville, Holsworthy, Wattle Grove, Voyager Point and Pleasure Point.
View areaAshcroft, Busby, Cartwright, Green Valley, Heckenberg, Hinchinbrook, Lurnea, Miller, Sadleir, Cecil Hills and Mount Pritchard.
View areaAustral, Edmondson Park, Leppington*, Denham Court*, Middleton Grange, West Hoxton, Carnes Hill, Horningsea Park, Prestons and Hoxton Park.
View areaBadgerys Creek, Bradfield, Bringelly*, Cecil Park*, Greendale, Kemps Creek*, Luddenham, Rossmore and Wallacia.
View area*Some suburbs extend across Liverpool and neighbouring council boundaries. Liverpool-specific requirements on this website apply only to properties within the Liverpool City Council LGA. We can confirm the applicable council from your property address.
Development-focused tree protection planning and arboricultural assessment.
Protection measures prepared for the actual trees, development and construction methodology.
Tree protection principles applied to the individual site, using the applicable edition of the standard.
Clear fencing, exclusion, access, excavation and service controls for the project team.
Wherever practicable, the same arborist prepares the plan and continues into construction monitoring.
Practical arboricultural and development experience.
A TPP may be required where retained trees could be affected by demolition or construction, either as part of Development Application documentation or a condition of Development Consent.
Liverpool City Council requires development-related tree reports to be prepared by an AQF Level 5 Consulting Arborist. Our plans are prepared specifically for your development and construction methodology.
Generally no. Liverpool's Technical Guidelines state that no work is typically permitted within the SRZ unless extensive, non-destructive investigation has confirmed it will not harm the tree, directed by an AQF Level 5 Consulting Arborist.
Where standard fencing is not practical for a site, alternative measures such as ground, trunk or branch protection may need to be specified, designed or directed by an AQF Level 5 Consulting Arborist and confirmed against the applicable Development Consent conditions.
Yes. Wherever practicable, the same AQF Level 5 Consulting Arborist can prepare the Tree Protection Plan and continue as the Project Arborist during construction.
Project-specific requirements should be confirmed against the applicable Development Consent, approved plans and current Liverpool City Council requirements.
Send us your plans, Council correspondence or photographs of the tree. Our AQF Level 5 Consulting Arborists can identify the appropriate assessment, explain the next step and provide a fixed quote before work begins.
