Trees create more liveable cities and provide environmental benefits by supporting flora and fauna, cleaning the air and protecting us from the heat during our increasingly hot summers.
Our trees also add character to our streetscapes and increase property values.
Leafy streets and gardens can:
- reduce household cooling costs by more than 10%;
- attract birds and butterflies to your garden;
- provide edible fruits and nuts;
- improve air quality;
- improve human health outcomes, including 16% lower heart disease and stroke rates;
- increased property value; and
- create privacy screens.
Trees offer so many benefits, however we know that they can take some maintenance to keep them beautiful.
Council commits significant resources to maintain and increase vegetation in our streetscapes and reserves and is keen to partner with the community to protect our trees for future generations.
For further information, view Council’s Tree Strategy(PDF, 9MB) and Tree Policy(PDF, 314KB).
Did you know that Council offers some support to help maintain trees on private land?
We want to continue to help owners maintain, enhance and preserve the natural and built environment by providing funds relating to building works and maintenance of significant and regulated trees.
Unley's Conservation Grant assists owners to preserve Significant and Regulated Trees, Local Heritage Items or Contributory buildings in a Conservation Zone in a 'safe and aesthetically pleasing condition'.
The Grant encompasses Unley's vision to become the 'City of Villages'; proud of its history, built character, landscaped environment and community well-being while ensuring sustainability into the future by responding to the need and expectations for change.
For further information, please visit our conservation grants webpage.
Our City has approximately 26,000 Council owned trees, of which 22,426 are street trees that need to be managed like any other asset, especially given the rise in extreme weather events.
Older trees
There comes a time in the life cycle of trees when they start to age and decline to a stage where they must be removed, or when disease or damage means that replacement is the best option.
Council has developed a Succession Program to guide the regeneration of our Urban Forest to ensure the City remains vibrant, leafy and sustainable for future generations.
Trees and powerlines
SA Power Networks manage the clearing of vegetation from around powerlines. For more information, please visit the SA Power Networks website.
Useful information about vegetation clearance near powerlines can also be found by visiting the Government of South Australia website.
Requesting tree maintenance
Keeping our streets and roads clean and safe is important to us.
Residential roads (local roads) are cleaned on a 6 week cycle. You can view our schedule to see when your street will be cleaned.
Street Cleaning Schedule
Let us know if you have a street maintenance request.
Make a request
All residential rateable properties are entitled to a kerbside green organics bin for garden clippings and food scraps. Once collected, this organic matter is recycled into mulch, compost, potting mix and top dressing soils.
If you do not have a green organics bin, please contact Council's Waste Management Officer on (08) 8372 5111.
If you are finding that one green organics bin is not enough, you can complete an application to request an additional bin (fees applicable).
Additional Bin Request
The City of Unley provides discounted services to help with basic chores both inside and outside of the home for residents who qualify. This includes basic garden maintenance, gutter cleaning and other in home support.
Getting Help At Home
Trees are Protected by Law
When working next to trees it is critical that the Australian Standard 4970-2009 ‘Protection of Trees on Development Sites’ is adhered to.
Any damage to Council street trees or regulated/significant trees on private property will result in the City of Unley taking relevant enforcement action which may lead to prosecution.
Speak with someone qualified
You should seek advice from a qualified arborist to determine the legal status of the tree/s, and to assess the possible impact your proposed development activities may have on such tree/s.
Request to remove trees on public land
Development approvals do not provide you with approvals to alter a public road(PDF, 148KB) in which street trees exist'.
If your development requires the removal of a Council street tree, you are required to lodge an application(PDF, 33KB) providing your development approval number and any other information you deem relevant.
Every application is assessed individually, and, not all applications will be granted permission for tree removal. Trees must not be removed, pruned or damaged before approval is granted.
Please be aware that alterations to public land (tree removal) will result in costs that you will be required to pay in full prior to Council undertaking any works.
These costs will include, but are not limited to labour, plants, replacement tree/s, stump removal/s and loss of amenity to the community.
Retain and Protect
The City of Unley is known for our green, leafy suburbs and our community value trees highly. All trees, whether public or private, contribute to our urban forest and play an important role in making our city attractive, healthy and liveable.
When determining requests, staff will apply Council’s Tree Policy, noting there is a priority to retain and protect existing trees wherever possible.
Please consider alternative options to tree removal. Effective tree management (i.e. pruning), monitoring or clever design can ensure a tree remains a valuable asset to be enjoyed for generations to come.
Canopy cover at your property
The City of Unley is providing residents with information about the percentage of tree canopy cover for their properties on their January 2025 quarterly rates notices.
This data was gathered by LiDAR measurement conducted during aerial flyovers across Unley during 2018, 2022 and 2024, and comparing data across this time interval.
Council has worked with SA company Forestree to develop the MyCanopy app. Simply click on the link, then enter an address to receive data about a particular property.
This is part of our work to help keep Unley leafy for future generations through the Tree Strategy(PDF, 9MB).
Overall, the average private property coverage in February 2024 was 20.9%. Our total canopy cover on both private and public land in February 2024 was 25.0%.
Compared to previous data from 2018, this is an increase of 6.07% to overall canopy coverage, drawing us closer to our 2045 target of 31%.
We understand that every property is unique and some have more room than others for trees. We would love you to consider:
- Do you have space to plant any new trees?
- Is your tree canopy cover above or below the average?
Look for your property’s tree canopy percentage on your next rates notice.
FAQs
Tree canopy cover is the layer formed by the branches, leaves and crowns of trees.
Canopy cover is defined as any tree above 3m in height. While smaller trees and other vegetation also provide many benefits across the city, the 3m height allows direct comparison to the 2018 and 2022 data sets collected by the State Government and keeps the focus on a height at which trees are expected to start delivering canopy cover benefits (shading and cooling benefits to their immediate environment). Newly planted trees are unlikely to be 3m or more in height and have therefore been excluded from the analysis.
Unley is known for its leafy streets and the community recognises the importance trees play in our health and wellbeing.
Leafy streets and gardens can:
- reduce household cooling costs by more than 10%
- attract birds and butterflies to your garden
- provide wildlife habitats
- provide edible fruits and nuts
- improve air quality
- improve human health outcomes, including 16% lower heart disease and stroke rates
- increased property value, and
- create privacy screens.
Trees in streets, parks and private gardens are one of the most effective methods for reducing heat in urban areas and the adverse effects of climate change.
Overall we are aiming for 31% canopy cover by 2045. However we understand that every property is unique and may not have the space for large trees or to plant new ones. Some people also have trees that they keep pruned lower than 3m tall and these would be missed by this LiDAR analysis.
So while the average private property canopy coveage is currently 20.09%, please consider your properties percentage in balance with your unique situation.
The percentages displayed on rates notices are for informative purposes, to raise the awareness of the importance of canopy cover city-wide, and encourage residents to keep the trees they already have and plant more trees if possible.
Improving data management is a key part of Council’s Tree Strategy, which aims to create a resilient, healthy, and diverse urban forest to keep Unley leafy for future generations.
Looking at the information by street and suburb will enable a targeted approach to implementing Council’s Tree Strategy work. Council will use this data to:
- Prioritise where to plant more trees
- Tackle heat issues
- Track past projects
- Set even greener goals for the future.
The LiDAR data will support and guide Council toward reaching its overall target of 31% canopy cover by 2045, and guide the Council and the State Government in achieving its canopy cover targets:
- The 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide (2017) outlines key directions to create a greener city through an increase in green cover by 20% across metropolitan Adelaide by 2045. This represents an increase from 26% to 31% for Unley.
- The City of Unley Tree Strategy has a matching goal of a 20% increase in green cover by 2045.
The LiDAR data will also support Council’s proactive advocacy at the state level to influence change in the Planning and Design Code.
Council created a tree canopy map of our City using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), which uses laser pulses from an overflying plane. Only canopy 3m or taller was captured across both public and private land. The results create a 3-D map of the canopy cover. The image at the top of this page gives you a great example of the level of detail created.
Council then used Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to overlay each LIDAR dataset over property boundaries to give individual property detail.
The tree canopy coverage % is calculated using:
- The total area of the individual property
- The total area covered by canopy (only canopy 3m or taller is captured) captured using LiDAR technology.
Council then used Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to overlay the LIDAR canopy results with each individual property. This provides each property's individual canopy coverage result as a percentage.
For example. If your property is 500m2, and the canopy cover was 50m2 your total canopy cover percentage is 10%.
Data was collected in April 2018, February 2022 and February 2024 to track the progress of our tree canopy cover over time.
Due to the number of laser pulses picking up branches as well as leaves to create the 3-D canopy map, it still gives a reliable result even if some deciduous trees were starting to lose their leaves at the time of capture. The image as the top of this page gives a good indication of the level of detail picked up.
Council’s commitment is at a city-wide level, aiming to restore canopy cover to a target level of 31% by 2045.
Of course actual percents vary across land use and ownership. For example our leafy city streets and roads currently have an average of 46.8% tree canopy coverage.
A percentage target at the property level is not set. By providing this data to residents, Council aims to educate and encourage an increase in canopy cover on private land.
No, the canopy cover assessment work was completed by the City of Unley and not related to the State Government tax. The Regional Landscape Levy (Formerly the Natural Resources Management Levy) is a state tax. Councils are required under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019 to impose and collect the levy on all rateable properties on behalf of the State Government.
The proceeds are paid to the Green Adelaide Board. The Council will collect $1.714 million in the 2024-25 financial year.
For specific information about how this levy is used, please visit
Yes, an overhanging canopy is included in a property result as it is captured inside the property boundary. The LiDAR shows where the canopy falls over a specific area, but it does not show where the trunk is located.
Due to information supplied by the Land Services SA, canopy cover for approximately 1500 properties cannot be reasonably measured by Council.
A small number of properties, particularly in multi-unit apartments, cannot display a discrete result.
The LiDAR results show that most of the increase in canopy cover is due to established trees growing larger. Across the whole of City of Unley, we are collectively still losing more trees than recently planted ones. Essentially this means that existing, growing trees are compensating for the trees lost in recent years.
Council staff have started to apply this new data to analyse changes at a whole of Council level.
Analysing the data results will allow Council to track progress and better target future investments.
Overall we currently have 46.8% canopy coverage over streets and roads and 41.2% over other public land.
Environmental Stewardship is a key strategy of the City of Unley – one aim is to maintain and improve Unley’s urban forest.
Our arboriculture team look after our existing park and street tree assets with a combination of inspections, cyclic pruning, maintenance and even clever use of stormwater such as these tree inlets.
To further increase our canopy we have been planting more new trees. For example:
- In the 2024-25annual budget, Council allocated $180,000 toward planting 600 new trees on public land to increase the canopy cover across the City.
- In the 2024-25 annual budget, one of Council’s projects is implementing Council’s Tree Strategy to work with private car park owners to plant trees.
- In 2022, Council provided over 600 trees for planting on private land through its Tree Voucher Lottery.
Council only has powers regarding significant and regulated trees. Authority, regulation and policy-making rests with the State government, and Council continues to advocate for strengthening of protection for Significant and Regulated Trees
Where the State Planning Commission is the relevant authority to access and determine development applications, Council can raise concerns over the removal of trees, however the final decision rests with the State Commission Assessment Panel.
- The 2018-2019 LiDAR data was originally processed to 1m resolution (i.e. 1m by 1m grid).
- In the 2018-2019 project report, it was stated the possibility of a slight over-estimation of tree canopy due to the 1m resolution.
- At the time this was reported as a known and accepted limitation of the methodology.
- The 2022 and 2024 LiDAR data was processed to 0.5m resolution (i.e. 0.5m by 0.5m grid).
- For each cell in a 1m resolution grid, there are 4 cells in a 0.5m resolution grid. Therefore the 0.5m resolution grid allows for more precise analysis.
- To provide greater confidence in comparisons between the 2018-2019 data and the 2022 data, the 2018-2019 LiDAR data has been reprocessed to 0.5m resolution and a new Canopy Height Model created.
- The reprocessing has enabled a more precise analysis of the 2018-2019 data, which has resulted in a revised tree canopy cover percentage which is lower than the previous figure. This is because the smaller resolution (0.5m compared to 1m) picks up the edge of tree canopy and holes in tree canopy with greater precision.
- The new tree canopy cover percentages have been used to calculate the tree canopy cover change the between 2018, 2022 and 2024 data captures.
Planting trees in your backyard
You can contribute to Unley's urban forest and enjoy the benefits trees provide by planting a tree - or more than one - in your own backyard.
The City of Unley has developed 31 factsheets for popular trees in the area to help you choose a tree suited to you and your property. The factsheets provide clear and simple information describing the size of tree, colour of leaves, ability to flower and more. There are a range of Australian natives, ornamentals and productive fruit trees. Since there are a large range of trees available, consider this as a starting point of ideas, then talk to your local garden centre for specialist advice.
Search for a tree below based on size; small, medium or large.
Our Tree Planting Info Sheet(PDF, 242KB) provides step-by-step instructions for planting your tree to give it the best chance to flourish in your yard for years to come, keeping Unley leafy for future generations.
Other useful tools:
We recognise the past achievements of community members for their important contributions in establishing the diverse urban forest we enjoy today. Ongoing work in parks, reserves, residential gardens with the encouragement of local food production continues.
The City of Unley is an urban environment recognised and loved for its tree-lined streets, parks and private gardens. The protection of Unley’s trees and street trees is particularly important to mitigate the impacts of climate change, the urban heat island effect and provide a range of social, environmental and economic benefits. This work is guided by the City of Unley Tree Strategy.(PDF, 9MB)
Trees and vegetation make an important contribution to our City and community in many ways. These valuable, living assets provide multiple benefits like;
- supporting flora and fauna;
- reducing the impacts of climate change;
- adding character to our neighbourhoods;
- increasing economic value to properties;
- cooling our homes and streets;
- holding cultural and historical significance;
- creating sense of place; and
- and overall, contributing to a more liveable city.
Establishing a healthy, resilient urban forest requires a sustained commitment from all of us.
The City of Unley Tree Strategy(PDF, 9MB) sets a long-term vision for Council and the community to keep Unley leafy for future generations. It considers current and emerging issues, opportunities and trends in our community relating to trees. In addition to managing and maintaining our existing trees, there is a focus on expanding and establishing new trees across the City.
The Tree Strategy was developed in consultation with members of the community, staff and key stakeholders. It responds to the voice of our community and provides us with the guidance to effectively manage, protect and expand our leafy urban forest for generations to come.
Recent studies show trees in the City of Unley are rapidly declining due to such factors like mature trees reaching end of life, urban infill or the trend for smaller gardens on private land. Council recognises the adverse impact this has on our City and community.
The City of Unley has a target to increase green cover by 20% by 2045
(which is approximately equivalent to 14,000 additional trees).
Our goal includes preserving our existing canopy cover wherever possible, and, incorporating new tree canopy in our streets and public spaces, developments and re-developments.
The City of Unley's goal for increased green cover are in line with the direction set by Resilient East and the State Government's 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide. Additionally, Greener Spaces Better Places is a collaborative project to increase canopy cover in urban environments nationally by 20%.
Individual backyards, gardens and corporate landscaping make significant contributions to our community. With 80% of the City’s land privately owned, Council cannot meet state and local targets by focusing on public land alone. Ensuring Unley remains leafy and resilient for future generations requires Council working together with private land owners and the community. We are strengthening and increasing programs and initiatives to help retain and increase canopy cover on private land.
In 2020, The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Arbor Day Foundation recognised the City of Unley with Tree Cities of the World designation for the care and planning of urban trees and forests. This international program celebrates cities across all continents that meet core standards.
Within our City lives a River Red Gum on Wilberforce Walk, Forestville, believed to be the oldest living thing in South Australia! Estimated at 800 years of age, it is also one of the largest, with a circumference of seven metres.
The City of Unley has community fruit tree orchards in six of our parks. These orchards are maintained by Council and volunteers, but the produce is available to share for all park users. Look out for lemons, oranges, mulberry, guava and more.
Aside from enjoying a seasonal mandarin at the playground, the orchards are a great way for children to learn more about where food comes from and inspire growing fruit at home.
You can find these community orchards at Princess Margaret Playground, Soutar Park, Orphanage Park, Morrie Harrell Playground, Henry Codd Reserve and Fullarton Park.
Through our Tree Tags project, we have calculated the value of individual trees in Unley and are promoting the benefits they provide to our community. Our Tree Tags show how much shade the tree provides, how much carbon dioxide it absorbs and how much oxygen it produces.
Photo credit: Jason Tyndall
In 2022 the City of Unley ran an $80 Tree Voucher Giveaway to incentivise tree planting on private land.
In 2024 we surveyed the Tree Voucher winners to review the program and see how their trees were growing two years later. We were delighted to hear the majority of trees were still alive, and some were even producing fruit.
The attached Case Study(PDF, 1MB) provides information about the program and its impact, and includes photos and insights from voucher winners.
Council Tree FAQs
Trees play a vital role in our community and they provide us with many benefits.
We often encounter common beliefs and challenges, and are asked similar questions from our community relating to trees and their management.
So, we’ve come up with 21 FAQs and answers to help your curiosity! The questions are grouped under three themes (New trees, Living with trees and Tree removal) to help you find what you’re looking for.
New Trees
Trees play a vital role in our community and they provide us with many benefits. Not only do they enhance the beauty of our neighbourhoods and create a sense of place, they also improve air quality, reduce wind, provide habitat for wildlife, cool our homes during heatwaves, increase property value, hold cultural and historical value, reduce local flooding, improve our mental health, and much more!
All of these benefits help to create a great place to live, so that is why we are committed to caring for our trees, while planting new ones to ensure future generations benefit too.
City of Unley cares for 26,962 trees and we have a Tree Strategy which outlines our target to increase our urban tree canopy by 20% by 2045. This aligns with State Governments targets to increasing canopy cover as part of the 30-Year Greater Adelaide Regional Plan.
You can enjoy the many benefits trees provide right in your own garden! Consider where you can plant a new tree, introduce a potted one, or increase overall greenery on your property.
Trees are long-lived assets that provide benefits over many generations, so we carefully plan and select trees to ensure they thrive and survive for the long term, while our community gets the best out of them.
City of Unley is guided by our Tree Strategy and Tree Policy which sets out our priorities for planting and maintaining trees within our City. We plant a mixture of local native, exotic, evergreen and deciduous species to ensure diversity and the character of our suburbs is maintained.
Our street tree planting is also governed by legislation, including the Local Government Act 1999, Electricity Act 1996, Electricity (Principles of Vegetation Clearance) Regulations 2010 and the Water Industry Regulations 2012.
New trees are selected by qualified arborists who consider a number of factors, such as;
- availability and quality of the tree species/type;
- location and planting conditions;
- space available (above and below ground);
- soil type;
- water availability;
- maintenance requirements;
- surrounding habitat and wildlife;
- ·nearby infrastructure like powerlines, stormwater pipes etc. (above and below ground);
- proximity to buildings;
- ·visibility and safety (i.e. unobscured road signs)
- sensitivity to disease and pests;
- local culture, heritage and sense of place;
- resilience to climate change.
We also prioritise plantings in suburbs with low canopy cover, areas with higher populations of vulnerable people, or areas that are more impacted during heatwaves.
Before we plant new street trees, we write to nearby residents or businesses to inform them that a new tree will soon be planted.
If you have space for a tree on the verge the front of your property, please contact us at www.unley.sa.gov.au/Report-an-issue to request one. If you have a particular tree species in mind, please include this so our arborist can consider your preference. Please note, planting a tree may not be possible in your location for reasons like limited space or interference with underground infrastructure.
Avenue planting (where both sides of a street is lined with the same tree species) has been a popular practice to design a uniform look.
This approach is becoming less preferred as it creates a higher risk of street-wide tree loss if there is pest infestation, disease, drought or heatwaves. Different tree types (or species) and ages have different tolerance levels. Where one tree can survive a drought, and another may die. Similarly, one pest or disease may impact one tree, and not another. An example of this can be seen in 2023, where hundreds of pine trees had to be removed in Highbury due to an outbreak of giant pine scale.
The current best practice is to plant streets with a mixture of different trees and ages, so when one of these threats comes along, less trees are impacted.
This mixture has other benefits too. By maintaining trees of different species and ages, we avoid all of the trees reaching the end of their lives at the same time. We can promote long-term tree health, increase local biodiversity, provide better habitat for wildlife, and improve resilience to climate change – not only for trees, but for people and property too!
When we select trees to plant, we also look at their sensitivity to these threats to make sure we have trees that can thrive and be enjoyed for many years.
Of course, some avenue plantings have significant or historical value in our region, and it is important that we recognise and preserve these.
Living with Trees
As part of our commitment to protecting trees and ensuring they stay healthy and safe, we have a proactive tree management and maintenance program for looking after the 26,962 trees in our City.
Our arborists undertake a regular health assessment and risk audit for each of our trees every one to five years. This timeframe varies from tree to tree as it depends on the type, location, age and other factors. Trees assessed as being at higher risk or in high traffic areas are assessed more regularly. These assessments help us to map out our pruning program, and any other requirements a tree may need, like pest treatment or watering.
There are many reasons why we prune trees. Maintenance pruning helps maintain their structural stability and extend life expectancy, as well as reduce risks from branch failure and clear access roads and pathways. Our aim is to allow trees to develop a natural shape, and only prune what is required and in a way that the tree is not adversely impacted. Young trees receive extra care and formative pruning until they are well established, grow strong and form a suitable shape.
We also prune trees outside of our regular pruning program if trees are damaged during storms or by passing vehicles.
South Australian Power Networks inspects and prunes trees under powerlines regularly to make sure that power infrastructure is safe. More information is available on their website at www.sapowernetworks.com.au
Members of the public are not permitted to prune, alter or damage any trees on council land. You can report suspected suspicious activity to Council trees.
To request a tree assessment for pruning, please contact us at www.unley.sa.gov.au/Report-an-issue.
Please note that we will not prune or remove trees to reduce fruit, leaf and other debris fall, remove birds or other wildlife, improve views, reduce shading of lawns or gardens, improve visibility of property signage or increase street lighting on private property.
If a Council tree is overhanging your property, you can request a pruning assessment.
Each request we receive is inspected by a qualified arborist following the Australian Standard for tree pruning. The assessment will consider a number of factors, particularly how pruning will impact the health and structural stability of the tree. We will also consider proximity to infrastructure and buildings/dwellings and risk to the community.
Generally speaking, a tree simply overhanging a property does not warrant pruning. If our arborist decides pruning is required, then only the amount required will be trimmed.
To request a tree assessment for pruning, please contact us at www.unley.sa.gov.au/Report-an-issue.
South Australian Power Networks (SAPN) is required by legislation to regularly inspect and clear trees around power lines. This ensures we have safe and reliable access to electricity, reduces the risk of downed power lines, outages and bushfires.
Council does not undertake this work, it is completed by SAPN and their contractors. You can find out more about SAPN tree trimming on their website.
If pipes are in good condition, tree roots are ‘unaware’ they contain any water inside, and therefore, will not be attracted there or cause any harm to the pipe. Tree roots typically only intrude on pipes if they are already damaged or leaking as they will follow leaks to gain access to the water and nutrients they need to grow. Once a damaged pipe is repaired, the issue of root intrusion is no longer present.
If you have any concerns like this about your property, consult with a professional plumber who can remove roots and repair the pipes.
If the tree is a Significant or Regulated Tree, you must follow the required legislation. More information related to this can be found www.unley.sa.gov.au/trees.
Similarly, damage to structures like buildings, walls, drains and paving is rarely due to root activity alone. Seasonal soil moisture changes, soil type (such as Adelaide’s highly reactive clay soils) and poor building foundations are common contributors to damaged structures.
If you have a concern relating to a tree on council land (i.e. roads, streets, parks), please contact us on www.unley.sa.gov.au/Report-an-issue.
Tree on private land:
Property owners are responsible for the removal, repairs and/or insurance claims relating to trees on their land.
If you require emergency assistance for a tree or branch that has fallen during a storm on your property, please contact the State Emergency Services (SES) on 132 500.
Tree on public land:
If a council tree or branch is causing a dangerous situation, please call us immediately on (08) 8372 5111.
For non-urgent issues, please submit a request via our online portal www.unley.sa.gov.au/Report-an-issue to have the fallen tree/branch removed and area cleaned.
Relating to powerlines:
If a tree or branch has fallen and is impacting on powerlines or related infrastructure, please call South Australian Power Networks immediately on 13 13 66.
Keeping our streets and roads clean and safe is a high priority for our community. We have a regular street sweeping and cleaning program that is undertaken throughout the year. As a minimum, our streets are swept every six weeks, however there are certain times when this frequency is increased, like during autumn or on streets where trees shed more litter.
Our sweeping program improves road and footpath safety, reducing excess leaf litter and other materials from entering the stormwater system, which in turn reduces pollution and the risk of local flooding.
We know trees require maintenance, but the benefits they provide are tree-mendous and worth the effort!
While we make every effort to keep our streets clean year-round, we appreciate the efforts of our residents and community members. You can help out by:
- collecting tree litter and placing it in your home compost, garden beds or in your green organics bin;
- not sweeping leaves or clippings onto the road or into piles (our street sweepers have trouble with piles of leaves); and
- not parking cars, caravans, trailers or boats on the road for extended periods so that litter builds up underneath them.
If you notice an area that requires our attention, please contact us via our online portal https://www.unley.sa.gov.au/Council/Street-cleaning-and-maintenance or email us at pobox1@unley.sa.gov.au or phone us at (08) 8372 5111.
Modern solar panels have improved technology that allows them to perform efficiently in some shaded conditions, compared to older models. Reputable installers are trained to install panels in locations to maximise sunlight and minimise shade, so make sure your local conditions are carefully planned for before installation.
Council will not prune or remove trees that shade existing or proposed solar panels.
If the tree is owned by your neighbour, you can have a chat to them. More information can be found in this guide, Trees and the law. https://lsc.sa.gov.au/resources/TreesandtheLawBooklet.pdf
If the tree is a Significant or Regulated Tree, you must follow the required legislation. More information related to this can be found www.unley.sa.gov.au/trees.
It is important to note that trees provide many cooling benefits to our homes as they not only shade areas from the sun, but they also act like air conditioners, by cooling local air through moisture evaporating from their leaves. This in turn reduces the cost and energy required to cool homes and run home air-conditioners.
Yes, if a council tree is causing a hazard, like roots lifting pavers or a low hanging branch in a walkway, we will take steps to rectify the issue. We regularly inspect our footpaths, streets and roads to ensure they are well maintained and safe.
A slip/trip hazard can also be caused by leaves, berries and other tree litter falling on a footpath or bikeway. This litter is part of the natural cycle of trees. These areas are swept regularly, and extra attention is given to areas of high litter fall, main roads and during seasonal changes.
If you have noticed a hazard, please report it either www.unley.sa.gov.au/Report-an-issue or (08) 8372 5111 and we will inspect and determine what services are required.
We love taking care of our trees, and we always appreciate when our community helps out. You can assist by sweeping the footpath near your home. You can use the tree litter in your garden as mulch, or add it to home compost or simply place it in your green organics bin for collection.
Trees provide many benefits to our urban spaces including food and shelter for local wildlife.
If you enjoy seeing wildlife, you can enhance your experience by planting a diverse variety of plants and trees on your property. Consider using native species known to attract local birds, butterflies and other wildlife. You can also install bird feeders, bee hotels, bird baths, nesting boxes and put out clean water in shallow bowls on your property, especially in hot weather.
Trees provide habitat to thousands of birds, insects and critters we can’t even see, so if you’re lucky enough to have a tree on your yard, ensure it is well maintained and kept for current and future generations to enjoy.
While some people adore wildlife watching and hearing bird songs, we understand that at times these can become a nuisance. If you’re concerned about trees on your property attracting wildlife, you can keep fruit trees netted, add deterrents like reflective objects or imitation owls and ensure there are no access points or gaps in your home or roof that may allow pests to enter. Generally speaking, wildlife nuisances come and go with seasonal changes, and are unlikely to remain year round.
In the City of Unley, we value our diverse urban environments and will not remove a council owned tree due to nuisances.
Gutter cleaning and maintenance are the responsibility of property owners to ensure homes and buildings remain safe and undamaged.
City of Unley is a provider of the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) which offers support to eligible members of the community. This includes discounted services to help with home maintenance, including gutter cleaning. You can find out more about senior services & support on our website www.unley.sa.gov.au/Community-services.
If a council tree is overhanging your home or building, you can put a request in to have it pruned. For more information, please see Question 5 (above) ‘A council tree is overhanging my property. Can you prune it back to the fence line?’.
Yes, we encourage you to water your street tree, especially during hot weather and dry periods when a tree needs it the most. We love taking care of our street trees, and we always appreciate when our community helps out.
Trees are a valuable natural asset and we want to make sure they survive, thrive and stay healthy.
Most of our trees are selected to thrive in local conditions, and are therefore fairly drought and heat tolerant. However urban areas with roads, buildings and other infrastructure trap heat and can make it especially tough for our trees to survive when extreme weather hits.
Council waters new trees more often as part of our young tree care program, until they are established at about 3-5 years old. During heatwaves or dry periods, additional watering is provided. We use recycled water instead of mains water whenever we can.
At times, additional watering is also provided to some older, more established trees during extreme weather. To keep water in the soil and prevent evaporation, we add mulch around some trees, particularly in parks and reserves.
You may have noticed cut outs in kerbs, swale gardens, permeable pavers or other features in our streets that encourage water to flow towards trees. Find out more about these water sensitive urban design features at Resilient East OR www.unley.sa.gov.au/sustainability.
Tree Removal
Dead trees can be found across our City for a few reasons.
- A habitat tree:
It may not seem like it, but large dead trees still provide many important benefits, like habitat for wildlife (i.e. hollows) and soil stabilisation. Council aims to retain trees where possible, and continues to assess them for structural integrity and safety.
- Community connection:
A tree may hold community, historical or cultural value.
- Ongoing investigation of tree vandalism:
It is an offence for a person to cut, saw, poison or remove any tree or shrub on public land. Unfortunately, tree vandalism sometimes occurs, and dead or dying trees will remain while investigation and prosecution is undertaken. The dead tree may also be retained for habitat reasons, as mentioned above.
- Unreported tree:
Council manages over 26,962 of trees, and though we audit them regularly, it can be some time before we notice a tree has died. You can bring a tree to our attention via our www.unley.sa.gov.au/Report-an-issue.
- It's on our list:
The removal may be booked on our future works list. You can always touch base with us to check the status of a particular tree.
Yes, we are trying to keep and increase trees in our City. Across Council we have over 26,962 trees we actively manage and maintain, and are working to plant 500 trees per year.
Council will always aim to keep trees where possible, however, just like any other asset, sometimes trees need to be removed if they are dying, are infected by disease or pests, pose a risk or are no longer suitable for their location.
Managing trees and infrastructure is a delicate balance and one that doesn’t always work together. Alternative actions are investigated and taken before removal is considered. Tree removal is always the last option.
If a tree is on private land then it can be removed at the discretion of the landowner, unless it is a Significant or Regulated Tree which is under state regulations.
Significant and Regulated trees are protected under State Government legislation in the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016. The definitions and regulations recently changed on 16 May 2024.
A Significant Tree is a tree with a trunk circumference of 2m or more measured at 1m above natural ground level. If the tree has multiple trunks, the total circumference must have a total of 2m or more and an average circumference of 625mm or more measured at 1m from natural ground level.
A Regulated tree is a tree with a trunk circumference of 1m or more at a height of 1m from natural ground level. If the tree has multiple trunks, the total circumference must have a total of 1m or more and an average circumference of 310mm or more measured at 1m from natural ground level.
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If a tree is Significant or Regulated, Council approval is required before it can be heavily pruned, damaged or removed. If you are unsure, check with us first. Unauthorised tree damaging activity can result in a fine of up to $120,000.
Council will always seek to retain Significant and Regulated trees unless they pose an unacceptable level of risk. If an application for a new development is received, we will encourage the applicant to design around the tree.
Full information on Significant and Regulated trees, including definitions and exempt species, visit Plan SA or on our website www.unley.sa.gov.au/trees.
Council recognises that trees provide some risk, however the benefits that large trees provide to the community are immense.
Council trees are monitored regularly and include maintenance programs to ensure any associated risks are reduced or removed. Depending on the location, some trees are monitored more often than others, for example, trees near playgrounds or picnic tables where people visit frequently.
Sometimes we hear from residents that Gum trees drop branches more frequently compared to other trees. Gum trees are the most dominant/common tree in Australia, and therefore, a larger overall number of branches are dropped from gums.
Evidence shows that there is a low mortality rate caused by tree failure or dropping branches, and in Australia, about 1 in every 5 million people loses a life from this (Hartley & Chalk, 2019). Approximately six times more people are killed each year falling from ladders.
If you are concerned about a tree, please report it to council so they can send a qualified arborist to inspect and determine if any works are required. Removal will only be considered as a last resort.
Trees provide many benefits for the entire community and they are rarely removed.
Council will not remove a healthy and sound tree due to nuisance, or dislike.
Please be aware that as per our Tree Policy we do not support removal for any of the following reasons;
- Removal or pruning of a tree that obscures or potentially obscures private views.
- Removal of a tree because of species type, unless inappropriate as determined by Councils Arborist.
- Removal or pruning of trees that create a nuisance by way of leaf, fruit, bark shedding or other natural process.
- Removal or pruning of trees that attract wildlife that causes nuisance.
- Removal or pruning of trees that creatin shade or water use.
- Removal of trees for development (e.g. facilitate driveway crossings) where reasonable alternatives to conserve tree(s) are available.
Residents are not permitted to remove, damage or prune trees that are on council land.
If you are concerned about a particular tree, please let us know so our arborist can inspect and determine if any works are required. You can report a tree via the ‘Report an Issue’ form on our website. Alternatively, you can call us on (08) 8372 5111.
Unfortunately, Council is unable to provide recommendations for specific companies or arborists. However, finding a reputable arborist should be simple. We recommend you:
- do your research;
- check for qualifications and experience;
- ask friends and family for recommendations;
- obtain multiple quotes; and
- ask the arborists questions about their experience, approach, references and insurances.
You can also visit:
The State Government protects special trees in the metropolitan area under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 and regulations. These are called Regulated or Significant trees. In 2024 new planning regulations were introduced to protect a number of tress, delivering on the government's commitment to implement best practice tree protections.
To complement the State Government protected Regulated and Significant trees, the City of Unley has a Significant Tree List(PDF, 240KB) which is a register of identified trees with increased protection under legislation.
A regulated tree is any tree in metropolitan Adelaide, Adelaide Hills Council townships and parts of the Mount Barker Council with a trunk circumference of 1m or more (measured at a point 1m above natural ground level). In the case of trees with multiple trunks, regulated trees are those with trunks having a total circumference of 1m or more and an average circumference of 310mm or more (measured at a point 1m above natural ground level).
A significant tree is a regulated tree in metropolitan Adelaide, Adelaide Hills Council townships and parts of the Mount Barker Council with a trunk circumference of 2m or more (measured at a point 1m above natural ground level). In the case of trees with multiple trunks, significant trees are those with trunks having a total circumference of 2 m or more and an average circumference of 625mm or more (measured at a point 1m above natural ground level).
A tree can also be important if they:
- make a significant contribution to the character or visual amenity of the local area
- are indigenous to the local area, rare or endangered species or part of a remnant area of native vegetation
- are an important habitat for native fauna.
Some trees may be exempt from regulated and significant tree controls either because of their location or their species.
For more information visit the SA Government’s webpage relating to Significant and Regulated Trees and see also the factsheets at the bottom of the webpage.
In 2021, a review of the register was undertaken and a number of nominations for new listings were received following a public call-out. This review and individual technical assessments for nominated trees is now completed, and the outcomes and next steps were considered in a Council meeting in May 2022 (Item 4.8).
For further information, view:
Further to the review of Unley’s Significant Tree List, a specific review of Highgate Park has been undertaken in 2023 to better understand the significant and important trees at the site.
For further information, view:
The Government of South Australia is currently conducting a review of tree legislation and policy. The outcomes of this may result in changes to current tree listings and protection, and an amendment to the Planning and Design Code (which is required to formally update the Significant Tree List).
You may wish to nominate a tree by providing its location, a description and photo using the online form below. Your nomination will be considered as part of future reviews.
Before nominating a new tree, please check if it is already on the register(PDF, 240KB) . They are listed by property address in alphabetical order by street name.
Nominate a Significant tree