Tree removal · pruning · stumps · storm work
Sutherland Shire arborists since 2004.
Tree removal, pruning, stump grinding and storm work across the Sutherland Shire, St George and across Sydney. Two AQF Level 5 consulting arborists, $20 million insured, and free, no-obligation quotes.
- 5.0 on Google · 22 reviews
- AQF Level 5 consulting arborists
- $20m public liability
- Rail & airport inducted
What we do
Every kind of tree job, from one crew.
From a single cocos palm to a big gum over a pool that has to come out by crane. The same people quote it, do it and clean up.
Tree removal
Whole trees, taken down in sections, stump ground, site cleaned.
Details
Pruning & trimming
Deadwood, clearance from roofs and lines, weight reduction.
Details
Stump grinding
Ground 300–400 mm below the surface, ready to turf or replant.
Details
Hedges
Tall screening hedges cut back, shaped and cleaned up.
Details
Palm removal
Cocos, Canary Island date palms and fan palms removed, stumps ground.
Details
Storm & emergency
Fallen trees and hanging limbs made safe, then cleaned up.
Details
Arborist reports & permits
AQF Level 5 reports for council applications, DAs and disputes.
Details
Strata
Scheduled maintenance, risk inspections and the paperwork committees need.
Details
Commercial & councils
Councils, schools, builders, facilities managers, rail and airport.
DetailsCouncil rules, explained
Do you need council approval to remove that tree?
Probably, but it depends entirely on which council you're in. Sutherland Shire protects trees by trunk size, Canterbury-Bankstown by height, and most councils publish a list of species you can remove freely. We've read every council's rules we cover and turned them into a step-by-step guide.
| Council | When you need approval |
|---|---|
| Sutherland Shire 42 suburbs | Trunk 100 mm or more across at 500 mm high, any bushland vegetation, or anything within 4 m of a creek |
| Liverpool 34 suburbs | Over 3.5 m tall, 4 m spread or 400 mm trunk at 1 m (council’s 2024 guidelines give different figures; check first) |
| Georges River 18 suburbs | 3 m or taller, trunk 100 mm or more at ground level, or 3 m branch spread |
| Canterbury-Bankstown 37 suburbs | 5 m or taller (any size on heritage, biodiversity-mapped or foreshore land) |
| Wollongong 14 suburbs | 5 m or taller, or trunk 300 mm or more across at ground level |
| Campbelltown 34 suburbs | Over 3 m tall, 500 mm trunk circumference at ground level, or 4 m crown spread |
| Bayside 26 suburbs | Taller than 3 m, or trunk wider than 300 mm |
| Fairfield 24 suburbs | Over 4 m tall, 3 m spread, or trunk over 75 mm at 1 m (much smaller on riparian land) |
| Strathfield 4 suburbs | 4 m or taller, or trunk girth over 500 mm at 1 m |
Where we work
667 suburbs across Sydney.
The Sutherland Shire is home: all 42 of its suburbs. We also work right across Sydney: St George, the city and eastern suburbs, the North Shore, the Northern Beaches, the Hills District and Western Sydney.
Every suburb has its own page: which council it's in, that council's tree rules, and photos of our work.
How it works
From phone call to clean-up.
No call centre, no sales rep. The person who quotes your job is one of the people who does it.
Call or send the form
Tell us where the tree is and what's worrying you. A photo helps.
Free quote on site
Alex or Wayne looks at the tree, the access and your council's rules, and gives you a free, no-obligation quote.
Council approval, if needed
We tell you whether you need a permit. If the council wants an arborist report, our Level 5 arborists write it.
The crew does the job
Climbers, EWPs or a crane, whatever is safest. Branches chipped, stump ground if you want, site cleaned.
Recent work
Barges, cranes, climbers. Whatever the job needs.
Waterfront blocks with no road access, gums over pools, trees between apartment blocks. See more of our work.
Truck and chipper by barge to a waterfront block
No road access, so the truck and chipper went across on a barge.
Climbing a gum for pruning
Deadwood and weight reduction by a climber, each cut made just outside the branch collar as the pruning standard AS 4373 sets out.
Clean-up at a commercial site
Branches go straight through the chipper; the site is swept before we leave.
Crane removal beside a church
Where a tree can't be lowered safely, the crane lifts each section clear over the building.
EWP pruning at a brick building
An elevated work platform gets the arborist to the canopy without climbing or damaging the tree.
Sectional removal over the water
A gum taken down piece by piece from the top, each section lowered on ropes so nothing hits the house or the water.
Reviews
What customers say.
Every review is from Google, word for word. The ones that mention Alex are usually about the quote; the ones that mention Wayne are about the job.
★★★★★I had a very large Eucalyptus tree removed from my place by Above All Tree Services and had an great experience! Alex came out quickly to give me a quote, and it was very reasonable compared to others I’d looked into. They locked in a date and true to their word, they showed up exactly when they said they would. They got everything done smoothly and cleaned up really well afterward too.
★★★★★Absolutely an outstanding job on the Tree Lopping yesterday. Alex who gave the quote was clean tidy and respectable and they cleaned up so well after the job. Highly recommend this company and will definitely use them again.
★★★★★Even though the weather was terrible, this team showed up on time and quickly and efficiently removed a large Canary Islands Date Palm from our front yard.
★★★★★Above All Tree Services were fantastic! Alex was tremendous when he came out to quote. Quick and easy and beyond happy with the work they’ve done for us. Feels like we’re living in a new place!
★★★★★From the quote by Alex, to the job itself, very polite, cooperative and satisfactory. Worked with me and my plan, gave advice and carried out the job to my complete satisfaction. Very competitive quote and on the day changes - no problems and no unfair gauge at extras.
Guides
Straight answers, written by arborists.
The questions we're asked every week, answered properly, with links to the rules. All guides.
The 10/50 rule explained
What the NSW 10/50 bushfire clearing rule really allows, how to check if it applies to your home, and the exclusions that catch people out.
Read the guideCan I remove a tree on my property without council approval?
Height, trunk size, distance from the house, exempt species: what decides whether your tree needs a permit in Sydney, and why the answer changes at every council boundary.
Read the guideMy neighbour's tree: overhanging branches, roots and hedges in NSW
What you can cut yourself, when you need council approval, how the Land and Environment Court handles tree disputes, and the 2.5 m hedge rule.
Read the guide
The family behind it
A family business that started with two people.
Wayne Back started Above All in 2004 doing small removals and pruning jobs with minimal equipment, after 20 years running his own veterinary practice. It has grown from two people to seven full-time staff and eleven casual and contract staff, with Alex and Daniel Back in the business and the cranes and elevated work platforms to handle the hardest jobs. Wayne still climbs, teaches chainsaw operations at TAFE NSW and is a Deputy Captain with the Rural Fire Service.
- Bayside Council
- Spotless Facility Services
- Eight Sydney strata management companies
- Public and private schools
- Construction and landscaping companies
Questions
Common questions.
How much does tree removal cost?
It depends on the tree's size, access, what's underneath and whether you want the stump ground. Our cost guide explains what drives the price. Quotes are free.
Do I need council approval to remove a tree in the Sutherland Shire?
Usually, yes. Sutherland Shire Council protects any tree with a trunk 100 mm or more across, measured 500 mm above the ground, plus all bushland vegetation. There are exemptions for about 30 listed species, weeds, dead trees and some pruning. Our Sutherland Shire guide walks through the rules step by step, and we'll confirm it on site when we quote.
Are the rules the same in every council?
No. Every council sets its own size limits, exempt species and fees, and they differ a lot: some go by height, some by trunk size, and some by both. We've summarised the rules for every council we cover.
Are you qualified and insured?
Yes. Wayne Back and Joshua Baber are AQF Level 5 consulting arborists. Our crews hold EWP (over 11 m) and Electrical Close Approach licences and rail and airport inductions. We carry $20 million public liability, $20 million product liability and $10 million professional indemnity with QBE, plus workers compensation.
Are quotes free?
Yes. We come out, look at the tree and give you a free, no-obligation quote. For stumps and small jobs, a photo is often enough to quote.
Where are you based, and how far do you travel?
We're a Sutherland Shire business. We work right across the Shire, St George, Canterbury-Bankstown, the inner west, the eastern suburbs, Liverpool, Campbelltown and beyond. Our areas page lists every suburb we cover.
Free quote
Tell us about the tree.
Free, no-obligation quotes across the Sutherland Shire and across Sydney. When you call, you speak to the people who do the work.
Monday to Friday 8:00 am – 5:30 pm · Saturday 8:00 am – 1:00 pm · Sunday Closed