Wembley Downs tree removal
A verge tree in Wembley Downs has been removed to prevent significant structural damage to a private property after an assessment found there were no acceptable alternative management options.
The City carried out a detailed assessment on the 17m tall red spotted gum after concerns were raised about the impacts of its root system on private infrastructure.
The City did not receive a request to remove the tree.
As part of the assessment, the City sought independent arboricultural advice and explored options to retain the tree.
In line with the City Tree Policy, the City seeks to retain trees wherever possible and removal is only considered if there are no other management measures available.
The assessment found that the tree’s root system had damaged private infrastructure and that retaining it risked significant future structural damage.
Unfortunately, the assessment also found that the root works required to mitigate that risk could not be completed without a very high likelihood of causing decline and instability in the tree.
The City made the difficult decision to remove the red spotted gum to avoid the likelihood of significant structural damage to private property or dangerous instability in a large tree.
Replacement verge plantings will be carried out in the area in the next planting season.
Mature trees provide significant environmental, habitat and amenity benefits and the City seeks to protect and retain them wherever possible.
Verges provide important opportunities for urban canopy growth, however, they can also be complex environments where trees, services and surrounding infrastructure exist in close proximity.
The City puts a lot of resources into growing urban canopy, with 7,957 trees planted on public land in the 2025/26 financial year.
In that same period, the City provided 5,673 free trees and 34,333 waterwise native plants to residents through its annual Free Trees and Plants program.
