Service
Tree removal in the Sutherland Shire and across Sydney
Above All Tree Services removes trees of every size from homes, strata blocks, schools and commercial sites across the Sutherland Shire and across Sydney. We're based in the Sutherland Shire. A qualified arborist quotes the job, tells you whether council approval is needed, and the same crew takes the tree down in sections, grinds the stump and cleans up. Quotes are free and no-obligation.
- Quotes
- Free, on site, no obligation
- Council permits
- We tell you if you need one
- Equipment
- Climbers, cranes, EWPs, chippers
- Insurance
- $20m public liability
Taking a tree down safely
Most of the trees we remove are big gums in suburban backyards, with a house on one side, a neighbour’s fence on the other and a pool or shed underneath. Felling in one piece is rarely an option. The tree comes down from the top in manageable sections, each one cut and lowered on a rope by a climber or from an elevated work platform. Where a section can’t be lowered safely, or the tree is dead and not safe to climb, we bring in a crane and lift each piece out over the house.
Why people remove trees
- The tree is dead or dying: dieback, termites, fungal decay at the base.
- It has become dangerous: a split trunk, a heavy limb over the roof, a lean that has got worse, lifting roots after a storm.
- It’s in the way: a new pool, driveway, granny flat or extension (this is usually part of a development application).
- Roots: cracked paths, lifted slabs, blocked drains.
- It’s a weed species: camphor laurel, privet, cocos palm and others. Many councils let you remove these without a permit.
Whatever the reason, the first question is whether your council needs to approve it. That depends on the tree’s size, species, where it stands and whether the property is heritage-listed. It is different in every council area. We’ll tell you when we quote, and each council’s page sets out its rules.
What we bring
Climbers with rigging gear, a crane for the big ones, elevated work platforms (our operators are licensed for EWPs over 11 m), chippers and a stump grinder. Our crew holds Electrical Close Approach licences for work near power lines, and rail (RISI, ARTC) and Sydney Airport inductions.
How it works
What happens, step by step.
No surprises on the day. You'll know what we're doing and why before we start.
We look at the tree
Alex or Wayne comes out, looks at the tree, the access and what's underneath — roof, pool, fence, power lines — and checks your council's rules for that tree.
You get a quote
One price that includes the removal, the clean-up and, if you want it, stump grinding. If council approval is needed, we tell you what the council will want to see.
Approval, if it's needed
You lodge the application with council, or we help you do it. Where the council asks for an arborist report, our AQF Level 5 consulting arborists write it.
The crew takes it down
Most trees come down in sections: a climber or an elevated work platform cuts each piece and lowers it on ropes. Where there's no safe way to lower it, a crane lifts each section out.
Stump, chipping and clean-up
Branches go through the chipper on site, the stump is ground below ground level, and we rake and blow the area before we leave.
Price guide
What it usually costs.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Small tree (under about 5 m, easy access) | $ – $ |
| Medium tree (5–10 m) | $ – $ |
| Large tree (over 10 m) or crane job | $ – $ · Quoted on site |
A guide only. Every job is quoted on site, free and with no obligation. See what affects the cost.
Our work
Recent tree removal jobs.
Backyard removal, before clean-up
Crew unloading from the barge
Truck and chipper by barge to a waterfront block
No road access, so the truck and chipper went across on a barge.
Questions
Tree removal: common questions.
Do I need council approval to remove a tree?
Often, yes. Every council sets its own size rules and exempt species, and a tree on a heritage property usually needs a development application. Our council rules pages explain each council's process step by step, and we'll confirm it on site when we quote.
Can you remove a tree with no side access?
Yes. Trees in backyards with narrow or no side access are taken down in sections and carried out, or lifted over the house by crane. On waterfront blocks we have worked from a barge.
Is the stump included?
Stump grinding is quoted as an option on every removal, so you can choose. We grind stumps to 300–400 mm below ground level, deep enough to turf or replant over.
Will you take everything away?
Yes. Branches are chipped on site and the timber is taken away, unless you'd like to keep the mulch or firewood.
How soon can you do it?
It depends on the season and whether council approval is needed. Most quotes in the Shire happen within a few working days. Dangerous trees are prioritised.
Tree removal near you
We're a Sutherland Shire business. Shire suburbs:
Related services
Free quote
Get a tree removal quote.
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