What is a Tree Protection Plan in NSW?
A Tree Protection Plan (or TPP) is a comprehensive report that outlines the specific steps necessary to protect trees from potential damage during development. It identifies which trees should be retained during construction and outlines methods and strategies to ensure tree protection during construction.
The report must comply with the Australian Standard “Protection of Trees on Development Sites (AS4970) guidelines and is required by councils for Development Applications when trees are present. A TPP is usually included within an arboricultural impact assessment but can be prepared independently.
AS4970 Tree Protection Plan compliance — what it means and why it matters
As per the AS4970:2025 guidelines, a tree protection compliance report must be conducted by an AQF Level 5 qualified TPP arborist. This is the standard across Australia and relates to how trees must be managed and protected during construction.
Compliance ensures that tree-related decisions are based on recognised standards. These cover how close construction can occur to trees, how to protect roots and soil, and what measures must be implemented to maintain their safety.
Arborist reports must comply with this standard in order for DAs to be approved by council. Failure to do so results in delays, requests for additional information or refusal of the application. Implementing the correct measures at the start of a project not only ensures tree health but also reduces the risk of costly future remediations like emergency tree removal and fines.
What’s included in a TPP?
A Tree Protection Plan in NSW must include:
- A list of any trees that are to be removed
- All the trees to be retained, including their species, common name, height and condition
- A map of Structural Root Zones around each tree
- Which trees on adjoining sites or access routes could be impacted, and how they will be protected
- Any protection measures to be implemented, such as fencing and signage
- Remedial steps in case a tree is damaged
When is it required?
A Tree Protection Plan is required when trees that are present on or near a site may be impacted by proposed works. It’s part of the documentation used for planning and construction.
DA Approval
A TPP is required as part of a DA when trees could be affected. Councils rely on the plan to inform them of how retained trees will be protected throughout the project before granting approval.
Council Conditions
Councils usually include a TPP as a condition of consent. Before any construction begins, the TPP must clearly outline which protection measures will be implemented to ensure tree safety.
Construction
The TPP must be followed to ensure tree protection during construction. The protection measures have a direct impact on the site plan and proposed construction. Once building is completed, a post-construction tree compliance report must document that the TPP was followed throughout the construction process.
Industries that rely on TPPs (architects, builders, councils)
Architects, builders and councils use construction tree assessments to guide their site plans. Councils rely on Tree Protection Plans for DAs whenever trees are present on a development site.
Knowing which areas of a site are protected informs site development and can impact construction. Architects use TPPs to understand tree constraints during the design phase, while builders must follow protection procedures such as installing fencing.
