Trees and Urban Forest

City of Newcastle and the community work together to regenerate and expand the urban forest in streets, parks and gardens to increase liveability for community and biodiversity.  

National Tree Day 2024 was held at Tarro Recreation Reserve. Council joined the community to plant 10,000 native shrubs and grasses to improve habitat for wildlife, including the wetland, within the 34-hectare reserve. 

In 2023, we revegetated 15,000 native plants all over Newcastle. City of Newcastle worked to improve and extend the urban forest with school students and the wider community. 

Northcott Park, Shortland 

On the banks of Crawchie Creek, Landcare volunteers and local families teamed up with council to extend the vegetation along the creek. In April 2024 mulch was laid and 2000 native grasses, shrubs, and trees planted to benefit creek habitat and health, biodiversity, shade, and park amenity. Crawchie Creek was officially named by Shortland Public School students and community members in 2017. Looking after this area is extremely important as the internationally significant Hexham Swamp and Hunter Wetlands National Park lie 200 metres downstream of Northcott Park. 

Ironbark Creek, Wallsend 

In 2023, we celebrated National Tree Day with 450 community members including Wallsend and Wallsend South Primary Schools. We revegetated around 500 metres of creek along a rehabilitated section of Ironbark Creek. Ten thousand new plants will reduce creek bed and bank erosion and continue to reinstate a wildlife corridor that extends from Elermore Vale, through Wallsend, and to the internationally important Hexham Swamp and Hunter Wetlands National Park. 

Outdoor Classroom, Lambton Park 

Students swapped the classroom for the great outdoors in May, 2023. Almost 100 Year 4 students from St Therese's Primary School, New Lambton, pulled on their gardening gloves to plant 2,000 native ferns, flowering shrubs, and grasses beneath six 100-year old fig trees at Lambton Park. They learned the importance of vegetation, fauna, and creek health during a biodiversity "treasure hunt" for bird's nests and insects along Ker-rai Lambton Creek. The students were also encouraged to get creative with a fun art activity highlighting sustainability and the value of pollinators in maintaining healthy trees. 

The students left a legacy of expanding the urban forest and biodiversity in their local park that they can be proud of for years to come. 

Bull and Tourle Street Reserve, Mayfield West 

Hundreds of hands helped to restore this reserve between July 2019 and July 2022. Planting aimed to enhance a pocket of Coastal Foothills Spotted Gum Ironbark Forest loved by locals. A total of 18,000 native grasses, groundcovers, shrubs, and trees were planted by residents, school students, the Lions Club of Mayfield and Waratah West, Greater Bank staff, and City of Newcastle staff. Over the years, we've observed honeyeaters, Eastern Spinebills, Rainbow Lorikeets, Black Cockatoos, and other native birds feasting on the vegetation planted here.  

Subscribe to our monthly Natural Connection e-newsletter to stay up to date on future community planting days. 

A private tree is any tree on land not under City of Newcastle’s care and control. We have a range of controls and requirements regarding private trees that should be considered before undertaking any activity to or around trees.

Urban Forest Technical Manual

The Newcastle Urban Forest Technical Manual is separated into three parts based on the land on which the tree, shrub or other vegetation is located, and the type of vegetation present:

• Part A:trees and large shrubs located on private land.
• Part B: trees and large shrubs located on public land.
• Part C: native vegetation communities on private land.

Damage and Vandalism of Private Trees

Damaging or removing a tree without consent can be a breach of the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 or Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997. Penalties or prosecution can apply to someone who damages or removes a tree without consent:

• Maximum Penalty imposed by Local Court: $100,000
• Maximum On-the-spot Penalty infringement Notice (imposed by City of Newcastle): $3,000
• Maximum Penalty imposed by Land and Environment Court: $1.1 million.

For more information on tree removal on private land or to download an application form, see below in tree, shrub and vegetation removal.

Trees and Development

Development can impact on both public and private trees, see our Development Control Plan and Technical Manuals page. It assists both the design process and construction phase of a development. It is important that any trees within 5m of the development are considered in accordance with the relevant sections.

Trees and Neighbours

City of Newcastle does not have the authority to tell a neighbour to remove or prune trees growing on their land. Residents will need to consult a qualified arborist for an inspection. Disputes over trees must be resolved between you and your neighbour. There are, however, some options for you to consider:

If your neighbour does not agree please contact:

• Legal Aid NSW - Law Access - My neighbour - Information about how to deal with a dispute with your neighbour.

Seeking legal advice

If you believe the tree or overhanging branches are creating a legal nuisance, you can seek legal advice from a solicitor or the Chamber Magistrate.

Useful links

In 2006 the Trees (Disputes Between Neighbours) Act came into force in NSW. Information is available by going to the 'Trees and hedges' section of the Land and Environment Court website.

Trees are as much part of the community infrastructure as roads and footpaths. As such, public trees are managed on a whole of life basis, within an asset management framework.

Our approach to good tree management includes:

• Forward planning – strategies for the future
• Early intervention
• Better long-term care
• Sustainable planting programs

Street trees are important

Trees help keep our city cool, absorb and store carbon, provide food and shelter for wildlife, and keep our air and water clean. Trees also make us feel great when we're walking past them and make our city look beautiful.

Healthy, well-developed street trees create shade over our footpaths, roads and other hard surfaces which absorb and radiate heat, and this shading helps to reduce the 'urban heat island’ effect by cooling our city and suburbs during our long, hot summers. Drivers appreciate shaded kerbside parking and the softening view of trees lining the road. Tree lined streets also beautify our suburbs and influence property values and marketability.

For more details on the contribution of street trees please refer to the Newcastle Urban Forest Background Paper.

Damage to Public Trees

Damaging (includes poisoning), disturbing or removing a tree can be a breach of the NSW Local Government Act 1993, Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 and/or the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

Anyone found to have damaged, disturbed or removed a tree without consent may be fined or prosecuted, which may result in penalties and a civil conviction.

• Maximum Penalty imposed by Local Court: $100,000
• Maximum on-the-spot Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN- imposed by Council): $3,000
• Maximum Penalty imposed by Land and Environment Court: $1.1 million.

Please report any damage to public trees by visiting our Trees and Vegetation page.

Trees and Development

Development can impact on both public and private trees. The Newcastle Urban Forest Technical Manual is a component of Newcastle Development Control Plan (DCP) and informs development and public tree management. It is important that any trees within 5m of the development are considered in accordance with the relevant sections.