Kareela, Kirrawee border, Oyster Bay.
Arborist & Tree Removal Kareela
Kareela was built into a gum forest and still lives in one. We reduce, remove and deadwood the big Blackbutts and Blue Gums over its houses, handle Sutherland Shire applications, and leave the timber as mulch or firewood if you want it. AQF Level 5, $20M insured.
★ 5.0 from 71 Google reviewsAQF Level 5 arboristsISO 9001 certified$20M public liability
A bushland suburb with tall gums
Kareela was carved out of bushland in the late 1960s and 70s, and the subdivision kept a lot of the forest: Blackbutts, Sydney Blue Gums, Turpentines and Angophoras that were already mature when the houses went in. Fifty years later they are among the tallest street and backyard trees in the Shire, standing over project homes, pools and the fairways of the golf course. Most of them are healthy, protected and never going to be approved for removal — so the real skill in Kareela is managing them.
That means regular deadwooding, weight reduction on long limbs over the roof, and honest structural assessment when a tree starts to worry you. Our AQF Level 5 arborists climb and inspect rather than guess from the ground. When a tree does need to come out — a split trunk, fungal decay at the base, a lean after a storm — we document it properly for the Shire and remove it in sections or by crane.
The hill down to Oyster Bay is steep and the timber is big; we plan every job around where the pieces can safely go and how they get to the truck.
Tree services in Kareela
Deadwood and weight reduction
Long limbs over the house lightened, deadwood out of the canopy, done to AS 4373 so the tree stays healthy. See pruning.
Tree health and risk assessments
A climbing inspection and written assessment when a big gum starts dropping limbs, leaning or showing fungus. See tree health assessment.
Removals when they are justified
Structurally failed gums craned or rigged out over the house, with the Shire application and report done first. See tree removal.
Mulch and firewood on site
Kareela blocks have room. Chip mulch spread on the beds and logs cut to length and stacked at no extra cost. See firewood.
Sutherland Shire Council rules for Kareela trees
Council: Sutherland Shire Council. Anything with a 100 mm trunk at 500 mm above ground is protected. Exempt: Camphor Laurel, Weeping Fig, Rubber Tree, Italian Cypress, pines, wattles, fruit trees; dead trees without hollows; storm-broken limbs; roofline clearance to the branch collar. Within 3 m of the house or pool normally approved on application. Kareela’s big gums frequently have hollows — those are habitat, and the Shire will not approve removing a hollow-bearing tree without a strong case.
Bushfire: Parts of Kareela and Oyster Bay bordering the reserves are mapped bushfire-prone, where the RFS 10/50 rule can allow clearing near the house. Check the RFS online tool for your address; where it applies we work within it. See the 10/50 rule.
Access: Wide streets and driveways on the flat, which suits cranes; steep rear yards toward the bay, which suits ropes. We look before we quote.
Recent gum jobs in the Shire
Our own photos from nearby jobs.
- Controlled sectional removal of a large dead gum over structures, stump ground.
- Deadwood removal through a row of established trees on one block — hazards only, no live reduction.
- Gum removal in Menai on a bushland-edge block, mulch left on site.
- Mature Blackbutt craned out over a house across the river in Lugarno.
Kareela tree questions
My gum is 35 m tall and I am nervous about it. What do I do?
Book an assessment. We climb it, check the union points, the base and the canopy, and tell you in writing whether it is a reduction job, a monitor-and-deadwood job, or a removal with a report for the Shire. Most Kareela gums are the first two.
Will the Shire approve removing a healthy Blackbutt?
Almost never on size alone. It needs a documented defect, damage or a valid DA reason. We will not push an application that has no chance.
Can you leave the wood chip?
Yes, and Kareela gardens love it. Mulch spread where you want it and logs stacked for firewood, at no extra cost.
Prices from our own 2026 jobs
| Job | Typical price (ex GST) | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| Small tree or palm removal (under 5 m) | $300 – $900 | Front-yard access is the cheap end; rear access or a stump adds to it. |
| Medium tree removal (5–10 m) with stump ground | $1,500 – $4,000 | Sectional dismantle near a driveway, boundary or pool, waste removed. |
| Large or hazardous tree removal (10 m+) | $5,000 – $25,000+ | Rigging or crane over the house, two to three days, traffic control where needed. |
| Pruning, crown reduction, deadwood | $800 – $4,000 | To AS 4373. Powerline clearance and pool-fence compliance trims sit at the low end. |
| Stump grinding (per stump) | $300 – $900 | Ground below turf level; root treatment and backfill on request. |
| AQF Level 5 arborist report for council | $1,500 – $2,000 | Written to each council’s requirements. Note: Sutherland Shire asks for a report independent of the tree contractor. AS 4970 impact assessments quoted per site. |
| Land clearing and vegetation removal | $6,000 – $25,000 | Whole blocks, bushfire zones, invasive species. Mulch left on site is free. |
Taken from our own 2026 invoices, not a national average. Every job is quoted as one fixed price after we see it. Full breakdown in the tree removal cost guide.
Other areas we work in
What our clients say
Real reviews from Sydney clients, quoted from our Google profile. Long reviews are shortened; tap Read more for the full review on Google.
Reviews …Really great service, professional, safe and accommodating. Difficulties of access easily overcome, good people to deal withRead more
David G.October 2026Jimmy and the guys were excellent at their job—very fast and very tidy. I highly recommend them, and I certainly wouldn't hesitate to use them again in the future. "True Roots" are the best.
Nomikos R.October 2026Removed 4 bunches of palm nuts and tidied everything up. Great job.
Matthew K.October 2026Jimmy and his crew were fast, efficient and professional! He was so helpful in removing a tree in our yard that was a safety hazard. I highly recommend True Roots and would not hesitate to use them again if needed.
Liz B.June 2026Jimmy and his team were excellent. Fast, reliable, well-priced and impressive work. Great to see such a good, local tree removal business and arborist in Mortdale and operating in the St George area. You will not be disappointed using these guys.
Jamie D.April 2026Great service! I liked how they cleaned up after they chopped down our tree. Efficient and very competitive pricing. I would happily book them again in the future.
Celia L.April 2026Jimmy and the two men working with him were professional, hard working and efficient with their time. They removed a large bougainvillea adjacent to the pool. I was very impressed with how well they did this, especially given how thorny it…Read more
Jan B.March 2026I recently hired True Roots to remove a large gum tree from my property, and I couldn’t be more impressed with their service. From the initial consultation to the final clean-up, the team of arborists were professional, efficient, and…Read more
Joseph2025Jimmy was amazing; right from the beginning, he was informative, professional and willing to work within our budget. We could not be happier with what he has delivered for us. We removed all our side trees and replaced them with hedges and…Read more
JJ2025Highly recommend the Team from True Roots, the boys came in and removed a Black Butt that was overhanging our house. Very competitive pricing and managed to squeeze us in. The stump was ground back and all waste was removed. Very professional and skilled workers. Will definitely use them again in the future.
Ben G.2024Highly recommend! James and the boys did an amazing job cutting down a large tree in my yard. Super professional, efficient, and left everything clean and tidy. Great service, and I’m really happy with the results. Will definitely call again for any future tree work! Thanks Andrew
Andrew M.2024Qualified, insured and accountable
- AQF Level 5 arboristDiploma of Arboriculture (AHC50524), TAFE NSW, 2024. About 15 years in arboriculture.
- ISO 9001 certifiedQuality management system certified to ISO 9001.
- $20M public liabilityPlus icare workers compensation. Certificates of currency sent with every quote.
- Australian StandardsTree pruning and trimming to AS 4373, tree protection on building sites to AS 4970.
- Indigenous-ownedOwned and operated by an Indigenous director. Registered NSW Government supplier on buy.nsw.
- 5.0 on Google71 reviews, every one from a real job. Read them.
Big gum worrying you in Kareela?
Send a photo of the whole tree. We come and climb it, tell you straight what it needs, and quote it fixed.
Get a free quote
Tell us what you need done and we will call you back to arrange a look. Every job is assessed individually - no two trees are the same.
Urgent or unsafe tree? Call 0422 023 242 - we answer 24 hours.