Trees and vegetation

The Gold Coast City Council controls tree planting and maintenance in road side nature strips, public reserves, parks and gardens. Council also has laws, acts and policies governing Tree Preservation on private lands within the city.

Upon application, Council's experts will inspect trees on private or public lands to gauge their health before determining if removal, pruning or other action is appropriate. However, it pays to remember that it will not permit the removal of a tree simply because it drops leaves or twigs, or is a particular species. Also, sometimes trimming a tree can cause it to become unhealthy and unstable.

• Civil disputes
• Cutting down a tree
• Free Tree program
• Community street planting
• Vegetation management

Public land

Concerns about trees and other vegetation on Council-controlled land should be directed to Council's Parks Maintenance Services:

• South of the Nerang River – phone (07) 5581 7814
• North of the Nerang River – phone (07) 5581 7967

For more information about public land plantings:

•  City Landscape Strategy Part 3 - Private Landscape Works in Urban Public Road Reserve areas

Private land

Private land not associated with a development

Where a resident of a private property wants to remove a tree or vegetation and there are currently no developments or proposed developments being undertaken on the lot, the resident should complete the following forms and submit to Council for approval before proceeding:

•  Form 1 (Part A): Development Application - Common Details (PDF 232kb)
•  Form 1 (Part E): Development Application - Building and/or operational work (PDF 71kb)
•  IDAS Assessment Checklist (PDF 446kb)
•  Site Plan for Tree Works (PDF 40kb)
•  Supplementary Information Sheet – Operational Works (PDF 53kb)

Trees on private land associated with a development

Where a resident of a private property wants to remove a tree or vegetation and there is currently a development being undertaken or proposed development on the lot, the resident should complete the following forms and submit to Council for approval before proceeding:

•  Form 1 (Part A): Development Application - Common Details (PDF 232kb)
•  Form 1 (Part E): Development Application - Building and/or operational work (PDF 71kb)
•  IDAS Assessment Checklist (PDF 446kb)
•  Application for material change of use and/or reconfiguration of a lot (PDF 291kb)
•  Supplementary Information Sheet – Operational Works (PDF 53kb)

Further information

For further enquiries regarding trees on private property, please call Council on (07) 5582 8866, or view the tree removal web page.