Menai, Bangor, Barden Ridge, Illawong.
Tree Removal Menai — bushland blocks, 10/50 clearing, big gums
Menai backs onto the Georges River bushland, and its blocks are bushfire-prone and full of protected gums. We do 10/50 clearing, hazardous-tree removals and honest assessments, with the Shire and the RFS rules sorted first. AQF Level 5, $20M insured.
★ 5.0 from 71 Google reviewsAQF Level 5 arboristsISO 9001 certified$20M public liability
Where the suburb stops and the bush starts.
Menai, Bangor, Barden Ridge and Illawong sit on a plateau of Hawkesbury sandstone with the Georges River bushland wrapped around three sides. The trees are the bush: Scribbly Gum, Sydney Red Gum, Red Bloodwood, Blackbutt, Turpentine and Old Man Banksia, often on the block because the developer kept them. They are protected, they are fire fuel, and in a southerly they drop limbs on roofs. Managing that is most of what we do out here.
A lot of Menai lots are mapped bushfire-prone, which brings in the RFS 10/50 Vegetation Clearing rule: on an eligible lot you can remove trees within 10 metres of your home without council approval. It does not apply everywhere — the RFS online tool decides — and it does not override every protection. We check your address before we quote, and where 10/50 does not apply we tell you whether a Sutherland Shire Council permit is needed.
The work itself is heavy: 25 to 30 m gums over project homes, often with a pool and a bushland boundary behind. We dismantle in sections or crane where the street allows, chip on site, and leave mulch and firewood if you want them — on a Menai block there is usually room.
Three sets of rules on one block.
Sutherland Shire Council: protected from a 100 mm trunk at 500 mm above ground; exempt species include Camphor Laurel, Weeping Fig, Rubber Tree, Italian Cypress, pines, wattles and fruit trees; dead trees without hollows exempt; storm-broken limbs and roofline clearance exempt; within 3 m of the house or pool normally approved on application; up to 28 business days.
RFS 10/50: On a lot inside a 10/50 entitlement area you can clear trees within 10 m of an external wall of your home, and other vegetation within 50 m, without council approval. Menai and Bangor have large entitlement areas but not every lot qualifies; we run the address through the RFS tool first.
Habitat: Old gums out here carry hollows used by possums, gliders and owls. The Shire will not approve removing a hollow-bearing tree without a strong case, and neither should you want it removed unless it is genuinely dangerous. We check before we cut.
Bushland-edge work.
10/50 bushfire clearing
Trees within 10 m of the house on eligible lots removed without an application, with the RFS eligibility checked and kept on file. See the 10/50 rule.
Hazard trees over the house
Dead, split or decayed gums documented for the Shire and removed in sections or by crane. See hazard tree removal.
Storm and limb-drop response
Menai gets hit hard by southerlies. Limbs on roofs and cars made safe the same day. See 24/7 emergency.
Mulch and firewood left for you
Bushland blocks have room. Chip spread on the beds and logs cut and stacked at no extra cost.
Removal and rebuild, Menai.
Our own Menai photos.
- Gum removal on a bushland-edge Menai block, chipped on site, yard rebuilt with turf and beds afterwards.
- Vegetation clearing of around 50 trees at 3–10 m on one property — cut, processed and stockpiled, mulch left on site at no charge.
- Selective removal and weed control of Privet, African Olive and Chinese Celtis on a large block.
- Controlled sectional removal of a large dead gum over structures.
Asked most often around Menai.
Does 10/50 apply to my Menai block?
Only the RFS tool can say — it is lot by lot. Put your address in at the RFS 10/50 page, or send it to us and we will check it as part of the quote. If it applies, trees within 10 m of the house can go without a Shire application.
What does clearing a whole bushland block cost?
Our larger clearing jobs this year ran $6,000 to $25,000 ex GST depending on tree count and size — the biggest was around 50 trees. Mulch left on site is free; carting it away is extra.
Can I keep the wood?
Yes. Cut to length and stacked wherever you want it. Gum needs a year to season. See firewood.
Real Menai prices, from real 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.
Also working in these suburbs.
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.
Bush block in Menai?
Send your address and a couple of photos. We check 10/50 and the Shire rules, then quote the lot as one fixed price.
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.