New Leaf Arboriculture

26/05/2026

I am so excited to share that I will be speaking at Treenet 2026 alongside fellow experts in the tree management professions. My presentation will focus on Tree Protection Plans and Specifications, particularly in light of the recently updated Australian Standard 𝐴𝑆4970:2025 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑠. These plans and specs are vital for ensuring the trees on sites we develop, remain healthy and viable at the end of works.

As I prepare for this opportunity, I would love to hear from you - What questions or issues would you like me to address in my session? Your insights are invaluable and will help shape a conversation that truly resonates with our community.

Looking forward to your thoughts! 🍃

30/05/2025

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐀𝐒𝟒𝟗𝟕𝟎 𝐃𝐚𝐲!

The 2nd edition of the Australian Standard 𝐴𝑆4970 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑠 is published today!

One of the new inclusions in the 2025 Standard is the addition of a "Moderate" category of encroachment, for >10% up to 20% encroachments. e.g. a 15% encroachment into a tree's roots zones will have somewhat less requirements than say a 25% encroachment.

To celebrate the new Standard release, New Leaf is offering you 15% off TPZ signs when you stock up with a 12 pack - Today Only! 🌳💚

27/05/2025

Hyde Park in Western Australia is facing a significant ecological challenge due to the invasion of the shot-hole borer beetle pest. This tiny beetle is wreaking havoc on cherished trees in WA, necessitating their removal to prevent further damage to other surrounding trees. As we witness this unsettling impact on our urban canopy, it's important to keep an eye out in other areas across Australia, to ensure any spread of pests is caught early.
🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂


(link in comments - source: ABC News)

26/05/2025

Citizen science meets tree management in South Australia

(link in comments - source: Yahoo News)
🌳🍃

19/01/2025

Development that doesn't sufficiently protect trees make tree failures more likely (trees need to be protected during development by providing a fenced off Tree Protection Zone, engaging a Project Arborist, and avoiding cutting of roots such as where houses and underground services are designed too close to trees). Early consideration of trees on a site, and getting an arborist in at site analysis stage, is the best and most cost-effective way to avoid damage to trees during construction works.

New Leaf provides professional level arboricultural advice, consultancy and reports in the Greater Sydney region and beyond.

(News story link in comments)

12/11/2024

I don't usually like to share the "worst case scenario" news, but this is a good prompt for me to share this message:

If you know of people with a "tree problem" (everyone I speak to seems to have one!) then the best first step is a consultation to get unbiased professional advice from a consulting arborist who does not have connections to a tree cutting company, such as IACA Accredited members (link in comments). A few hundred dollars to get good advice when the problem was first noticed, could save many tens of thousands of dollars in repairs.

Council is not there to stop you taking reasonable actions. A tree permit application, and most advice from arborists is generally only valid for a year or less, because trees change over time and with different conditions. Councils can't assess a tree on private property if you haven't gone through the correct process - which, in NSW at least, is to submit a tree permit application (or in special cases such as heritage areas, a DA).

- Jacki New Leaf Arboriculture 🍃

The council had finally agreed to look at the unhealthy tree just days before the calamity.

23/09/2024

Council in WA considers 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 💰for protecting significant trees 🌳, I'll be interested to see how this goes!

06/08/2024

North Sydney has lost canopy cover over recent decades – with impacts for the air quality, climate and health of our community.
This and other findings of North Sydney Council’s most recent canopy assessment will be covered in detail at our upcoming Urban Forest Health Check webinar (Thursday 22 August, 6.30pm) - link in comments.

Whether you’re concerned about the environmental, health or community benefits of trees, we’re losing them at an alarming rate.
The reasons for the dwindling canopy cover include changes to tree removal laws, trends towards paved outdoor areas, and the impacts of state government infrastructure projects – notably the B-line, Sydney Metro stations, and the Western Harbour Tunnel and Warringah Freeway Upgrade.

A healthy tree population has many advantages. From cleaning our air to providing shade, and creating habitat for wildlife to preventing the ‘urban heat island’ effect, we need trees to maintain a healthy and liveable environment.

In the webinar, Council’s Urban Forest Officer will present a ‘health check’ on our urban forest, the actions Council is taking to remedy the damage, and how everyone in our community can help.

Sign up on North Sydney Council website.

Find out the latest data on the health of North Sydney's tree population and how we can make the most of their environmental, community and health benefits in future.

07/07/2024

Sometimes they're armed with a chainsaw, sometimes a bottle of poison, and often they're operating in broad daylight. So why is it so hard to catch Sydney's tree killers?

01/03/2024

Another way to avoid unexpected costs is to make sure trees are considered at pre-planning stage to minimise costs and delays

Host of Grand Designs Transformations and professor of architecture Anthony Burke says there are ways to set up your project so it runs to time and budget — but you might not like what it involves.