The fees to lodge with council are not charged by Above All Tree Services. They are paid directly to Sutherland Shire Council. Prices were last checked on . We have done our best to keep these current and accurate, but you should always refer to the council's website to confirm pricing.
Our home patch · 42 suburbs
Tree removal in the Sutherland Shire
Looking for tree removal in the Sutherland Shire? Above All Tree Services is a family-owned Sutherland Shire arborist business, working across the Shire since 2004. Our AQF Level 5 consulting arborists assess your tree and help with council permits; our crews remove it safely, grind the stump and clean up. Insured to $20 million. Call Wayne on 0412 708 072.
Suburbs
Every suburb in the Shire.
Each suburb page covers the local landscape, the trees we see there and the Shire's rules for that suburb.
Engadine, Heathcote & the south
Menai & the plateau
Sutherland, Gymea & Miranda
Port Hacking & the bays
Sylvania & the Georges River
Cronulla, Kurnell & Bundeena
Council rules
Do you need council approval?
In Sutherland Shire you need a council tree permit before you prune or remove any tree whose trunk is 100 mm or more in diameter at 500 mm above the ground, any bushland vegetation of any size, or any tree or vegetation within 4 m of a creek. Exceptions are the species on council's exempt list, minor pruning (no more than 10% of the canopy in 12 months), clearing branches that overhang a roof, storm-damaged limbs and genuinely imminent dangers. The permit costs $213Council fee in 2026/27 ($90Council fee for pensioners), council's own arborist inspects, and an approved removal normally comes with a condition to plant two replacement trees.
- Sutherland Shire protects trees by trunk size (100 mm diameter at 500 mm above ground), not height, so quite small trees need a permit.
- Any remnant bushland vegetation — including shrubs, groundcovers and mangroves — and anything within 4 m of a creek is protected regardless of size.
- Council's Greenweb strategy maps Greenweb Core, Support and Restoration areas; in these areas all locally indigenous species must be kept and bushland in Core or Support areas generally can't be cleared except with RFS support or a development consent. Check your property on Shire Maps; the Greenweb Officer (0414 193 840) offers free consultations.
Services
What we do in the Shire.
One crew for the whole job.
Tree removal in the Sutherland Shire
Whole trees, taken down in sections, stump ground, site cleaned.
Details
Pruning & trimming in the Sutherland Shire
Deadwood, clearance from roofs and lines, weight reduction.
Details
Stump grinding in the Sutherland Shire
Ground 300–400 mm below the surface, ready to turf or replant.
Details
Hedges in the Sutherland Shire
Tall screening hedges cut back, shaped and cleaned up.
Details
Palm removal in the Sutherland Shire
Cocos, Canary Island date palms and fan palms removed, stumps ground.
Details
Storm & emergency in the Sutherland Shire
Fallen trees and hanging limbs made safe, then cleaned up.
Details
Arborist reports & permits in the Sutherland Shire
AQF Level 5 reports for council applications, DAs and disputes.
Details
Strata in the Sutherland Shire
Scheduled maintenance, risk inspections and the paperwork committees need.
Details
Commercial & councils in the Sutherland Shire
Councils, schools, builders, facilities managers, rail and airport.
DetailsRecent work
From Port Hacking to the plateau.
Waterfront blocks with barge access, gums on sandstone, cranes over houses.
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 Shire customers say.
★★★★★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.
★★★★★Alex was fantastic with the quote process and Wayne and the team did a great job with no mess! Happily recommend and have used above all trees multiple times.
★★★★★Highly recommend Above All Tree Services. Punctual, tidy and work all completed as quoted.
★★★★★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.
★★★★★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.
Questions
Sutherland Shire tree removal: questions.
Do I need council permission to remove a tree in the Sutherland Shire?
Usually, yes. In Sutherland Shire you need a council tree permit before you prune or remove any tree whose trunk is 100 mm or more in diameter at 500 mm above the ground, any bushland vegetation of any size, or any tree or vegetation within 4 m of a creek. Exceptions are the species on council's exempt list, minor pruning (no more than 10% of the canopy in 12 months), clearing branches that overhang a roof, storm-damaged limbs and genuinely imminent dangers. The permit costs $213Council fee in 2026/27 ($90Council fee for pensioners), council's own arborist inspects, and an approved removal normally comes with a condition to plant two replacement trees. Our Sutherland Shire guide walks through it step by step.
How much does tree removal cost in the Sutherland Shire?
Most residential removals we do in the Shire fall between $___ and $___. The price depends on height, access, what's underneath (roofs, pools, power lines) and whether you want the stump ground. Quotes are free and fixed. See what affects the cost.
Where are you based?
In the Sutherland Shire. It is our home patch, so every Shire suburb is close by, and we work right across Sydney too.
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 we carry $20 million public liability.
Do you do emergency and storm work?
Storm and emergency call-outs outside these hours: call Wayne on 0412 708 072. During big storms we triage by danger.
Can you remove palms and grind stumps?
Yes. We remove palms of all sizes, including Canary Island date palms (which are on the Shire's exempt list), and grind stumps 300–400 mm below ground so you can replant or turf.
Do you clean up afterwards?
Yes. Every job finishes with a full clean-up, which is what our reviews mention most.
Free quote
Tree work in the Shire? Tell us about it.
Free, no-obligation quotes. 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