Sutherland Shire tree removal. Waterfront, bushland and strata.
AQF Level 5 arborists on the Shire’s doorstep with crane, rigging and tight-access crews. Council permits lodged for you, fixed prices, $20M public liability, the yard left clean.
★ 5.0 from 71 Google reviewsAQF Level 5 arboristsISO 9001 certified$20M public liability
From the waterfront at Burraneer, Lilli Pilli and Sylvania Waters to the bushland edges of Menai, Engadine and Heathcote, Sutherland Shire blocks carry mature Blackbutts, Angophoras, Turpentines and 20-metre gums that were there before the houses. True Roots is a Mortdale-based crew of AQF Level 5 arborists on the Shire’s doorstep, with the cranes, rigging and machinery to remove, prune or make safe a tree of any size, and the council knowledge to prepare the permit to the council's requirements.
Shire tree work is different from the rest of Sydney. Blocks back onto the Royal National Park, the Georges and Woronora Rivers and Port Hacking, so trees are bigger, access is often down a slope or over a pool, and Sutherland Shire Council’s tree controls are strict and enforced. A lot of what we are asked to do here is high-value: a dead gum leaning over an expensive home, a Norfolk Pine blocking a water view, a row of trees between a builder and a DA, a strata block that needs a pruning program signed off by an arborist. That is the work we are set up for.
We quote every job in person, in writing and as one fixed price that includes the permit application, the removal, chipping, stump grinding if you want it, and the yard left clean. If a tree can be saved with proper pruning we will tell you, because we would rather keep a good tree than sell you a removal.
Sectional dismantles over houses, pools and boatsheds, crane lifts where the block allows, rigging where it does not. Dead gums, storm-damaged trees and trees within 3 m of the house are our bread and butter. See tree removal.
Crown reductions, deadwooding, weight reduction on long limbs, powerline and pool-fence clearance. Sutherland Shire Council requires all pruning to follow AS 4373-2007, so we prune to the standard instead of lopping. See tree pruning.
We check the DCP, lodge the Sutherland Shire tree application and write the AQF Level 5 report when the council asks for one, including AS 4970 impact assessments with root mapping for pool and extension DAs. See arborist reports.
Cocos and Canary Island palms climbed and removed from tight rear yards, Norfolk and Radiata pines dismantled beside the water, Angophoras managed on foreshore reserves with the reserve’s rules respected. See palm removal.
Stumps ground below turf level with a Rayco grinder, holes backfilled and, if you want it, the lawn or beds rebuilt by the same crew. See stump grinding and landscape construction.
Vegetation clearing on the park edges of Menai, Engadine, Heathcote and Alfords Point, the 10/50 Vegetation Clearing rule checked on the RFS tool before a saw starts, weed species such as Privet and African Olive removed properly. See land clearing.
Other recent Shire jobs: an AS 4970 impact assessment with root mapping for a pool DA; a vegetation clearing of around 50 trees at 3–10 m on one bushland property with the mulch left on site at no charge; a storm-damaged gum made safe the same night and removed the following week; a large dead gum dismantled in sections over structures; Eucalyptus stumps ground below grade in Cronulla ahead of new turf; and deadwood and weight reduction on Angophoras backing onto a foreshore reserve. Suburb-level detail is on the pages below.
Under Chapter 39 of the Sutherland Shire Development Control Plan 2015, a tree is protected once its trunk is 100 mm in diameter measured at 500 mm above ground. Removing or pruning a protected tree needs a tree permit from council unless an exemption applies. Exempt species include Camphor Laurel, Weeping Fig, Rubber Tree, Italian Cypress, most Pinus and Acacia species and fruit trees; dead trees are exempt unless they contain hollows; storm-damaged limbs and clearance from the roofline can be dealt with without a permit. Trees within 3 m of a dwelling or an in-ground pool will generally be permitted for removal, but an application is still lodged.
Council allows up to 28 business days for a decision and permits run for two years, so if you are planning a pool, extension or knock-down rebuild the time to apply is now. We lodge the application for you with the photos, measurements and, where required, the arborist report council expects, which is the difference between an approval and a request for more information. Full detail on our Sutherland Shire Council tree removal guide; Georges River side of the Shire border is covered on our Georges River guide.
Every job is quoted fixed after an arborist looks at it. These are the ranges our recent Sutherland Shire quotes have fallen into, ex GST, so you know what to expect before you call.
$300 – $900. Front-yard access is the cheap end; rear access down a slope or a stump adds to it.
$1,500 – $4,000. Sectional dismantle near a driveway, boundary or pool, waste removed.
$5,000 – $25,000+. Rigging or crane over the house, two to three days, traffic control where needed.
$800 – $4,000. To AS 4373. Powerline clearance and pool-fence compliance trims sit at the low end.
$1,500 – $2,000. Written to Sutherland Shire, Georges River and Bayside requirements. AS 4970 impact assessments with root mapping quoted per site.
$6,000 – $25,000. Whole blocks, bushfire zones, invasive species. Mulch left on site is free.
Big trees close to expensive houses, pools and boatsheds. You get a Level 5 arborist on site, a written fixed price, the permit handled, and a crew that protects the lawn, the paving and the neighbour’s fence as carefully as the house.
Annual pruning programs, powerline and car-park clearance, removals within 3 m of the building, and the certificates of currency, SWMS and arborist sign-off your strata manager needs on file. See strata tree management.
Trees and stumps out before the excavator arrives, AS 4970 tree protection where a tree stays, root mapping for pool DAs, and site clearing priced by the day with our own machinery. See commercial and builder tree services.
Most people who search for a tree lopper want one of three things: a tree cut back, a tree taken down, or a dangerous limb removed. We do all three. What we do not do is lop.
Lopping usually means cutting limbs back to stubs or flat-topping the canopy. Sutherland Shire Council requires all pruning to follow AS 4373-2007 Pruning of amenity trees, and lopping does not meet it. A lopped tree also tends to regrow with weak, crowded shoots that need cutting again sooner.
Council rules are on the Sutherland Shire Council trees on private land page. Applications are normally decided within 28 business days, and permits are valid for two years.
Usually, yes. Any tree with a trunk of 100 mm or more at 500 mm above ground is protected under the Shire DCP unless it is an exempt species or dead without hollows. We check the rules for your tree, lodge the permit and include the cost in the quote.
Council will generally permit removal of a tree within 3 m of a dwelling or in-ground pool, but a permit application is still lodged first. We measure it, photograph it and submit it for you.
Small trees and palms from a few hundred dollars; medium trees with the stump ground $1,500–$4,000; large or hazardous trees over houses $5,000 to $25,000 and more where a crane and traffic control are needed. Every quote is fixed and written after we look at the tree.
Yes. Our climbers rig trees down in sections where machinery cannot go, and where a crane can reach we lift whole sections out over the house. Material is carried, winched or chipped on site; the lawn and paving are protected with mats.
Yes, 24 hours. We make the site safe first, deal with the insurer’s paperwork after, and come back to finish the removal once the danger is gone. See emergency tree removal.
Yes. Stump ground, hole filled, levels fixed and new turf or beds laid by the same crew under one quote, so you are not chasing a second contractor. We build outdoor spaces; we do not mow them.
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.2024
Send a photo with your suburb. A Level 5 arborist looks at it, tells you what council will say, and quotes one fixed price for the permit, the work and the clean-up. Same-day call back, seven days.
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.
Enter your details below and we will call you back to arrange a look. Urgent or storm-damaged tree? Call 0422 023 242. You can also text photos to that number. Your details are only used to quote and book your job (privacy policy).
