Georges River Council reports written here, accepted there.
Tree Removal & Arborist Penshurst
Penshurst’s 60-year-old street and backyard trees are now into pools, slabs and sewer lines. We remove them, prune them properly, and write the AQF Level 5 reports Georges River Council asks for. Based in Mortdale, next suburb over.
★ 5.0 from 71 Google reviewsAQF Level 5 arboristsISO 9001 certified$20M public liability
Arborist reports, removals and root problems in Penshurst
Penshurst is where we do more arborist reports than anywhere else. A lot of the suburb is being rebuilt — knock-down rebuilds, pools, granny flats, duplexes on the wider blocks near Penshurst Park — and Georges River Council asks for an arboricultural impact assessment to AS 4970 on almost every application that has a decent tree within reach of the works. We write those in-house, including the root mapping when the council asks for it, and we know what the assessing officers want to see.
The other half is the trees themselves. Penshurst’s post-war blocks have Jacarandas, Liquidambars, Camphor Laurels, Brush Box and big Bottlebrushes that have simply outgrown a suburban yard: roots lifting paths and cracking slabs, limbs over the roof, canopies over the neighbour. We take them down in sections, grind the stump below turf, and fix the roots and the ground properly rather than leaving a hole.
Everything is quoted as one fixed price after a look. Removal, stump, waste, and the council application if you want us to lodge it.
Recent Penshurst jobs
Addresses and clients kept private; the work is real.
- Full AQF Level 5 arborist report on a Penshurst property in May — assessment, photos, retention and removal recommendations for the council.
- AS 4970 arboricultural impact assessment with root mapping for a pool DA, answering Georges River Council’s request for information: two site days, then the report.
- Medium tree removal beside a shared driveway with the stump ground 250 mm below grade and the roots treated so the driveway could be reinstated.
- Deadwood removal through a row of established trees on one block — no live reduction, just the hazards.
Tree services in Penshurst
AS 4970 impact assessments for DAs
Tree protection zones, root mapping, encroachment calculations and the tree protection plan the council wants before it approves a pool or extension. See arborist reports.
Removals close to the house
Sectional dismantle of trees within a couple of metres of the roof, over pools and along shared boundaries, with the neighbour’s side protected. See tree removal.
Root barriers and root pruning
Roots into slabs, driveways and pipes handled under arborist supervision so the tree stays healthy and the structure stays put. See root barriers.
Deadwood and clearance pruning
Roof, gutter and powerline clearance to AS 4373, deadwood out of Jacarandas and Liquidambars before it lands on a car. See pruning.
Georges River Council tree rules
Council: Georges River Council. Trees are protected at 3 m tall, 100 mm trunk or 3 m spread. Pruning to remove deadwood and trimming hedges is exempt; everything else, including removing a dead tree, needs an application. Where a tree sits inside the works area of a DA, the council’s request for information will ask for an AS 4970 arboricultural impact assessment — and it will have a deadline. We have turned these around inside the council’s date more than once.
The blocks: Penshurst has some of the wider frontages in the area, which means we can often get the loader and chipper to the rear via the side. Where there is a carport or a narrow path, we rig and carry. Shared driveways along the railway side are common; we plan the traffic control and letterbox the neighbours before the day.
What grows here: Jacaranda, Liquidambar, Camphor Laurel, Brush Box, Bottlebrush and a few big old Eucalypts around Penshurst Park and the golf course edge. Camphor Laurels under 6 m are on the council’s exempt list; taller ones need an application like everything else.
Penshurst tree questions
The council asked for an “AS 4970 assessment” on my pool DA. What is it?
A report that works out each tree’s protection zone, how much your pool or extension encroaches on it, and whether the tree can be kept. Where the council wants it, we map the roots on site with an air spade rather than guessing. It is quoted as site days plus the report.
Can I remove a dead tree in Penshurst without approval?
Not in Georges River — dead trees still need an application unless they are an immediate danger, in which case an AQF Level 5 arborist can confirm the hazard and the exempt works form is lodged within 72 hours. We handle both.
Will the removal damage the neighbour’s fence or garden?
No. Everything comes down in sections onto our side, we protect the fence line, and we photograph before and after. Shared boundary trees are half our Penshurst work.
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.
Council letter or a tree in the way?
Email us the council’s request or a photo of the tree. We tell you the same day what it needs and what it costs.
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.