CAV is committed to freely exchanging knowledge and information that benefits our industry. We provide resources to support best practice arboriculture across the public and private realms. Our resources include guidelines and tools to aid tree assessment and reporting for development projects.
An arboricultural impact assessment is a procedure for determining the viability of retained trees at the design and review stage of a project. These guidelines describe how an arborist should work to resolve design outcomes with the project team, and prepare a report for town planning submission demonstrating adverse tree impact can be suitably avoided and/or minimized.
Successful long-term retention of trees in the vicinity of construction work requires input from an arborist at each stage of a development project. This flowchart outlines the recommended involvement of an arborist in a generic development project where trees are a consideration.
You are free to share, copy and redistribute the Reporting Guidelines Flowchart (JPG) in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially as long as you do not modify it and include the following credit:
Reporting Guidelines Flowchart by Council Arboriculture Victoria Inc. licensed under CC BY-ND.
The AS 4970-2009 Calculator is a free web app based on the Australian Standard® AS 4970-2009 Protection of trees on development sites.
Accepts circumference or diameter measurements
Calculates diameter at breast height (DBH) and diameter above buttress (DAB) for single and multi-stemmed trees
Calculates tree protection zones (TPZ) and structural root zones (SRZ)
Calculates two types of encroachment
Smartphone optimised
Easy to use in the field
Free to use
We share resources that support best practice arboriculture and urban forestry. Below is a summary of useful links to industry resources and organisations.
Arboriculture Australia™ is the peak national body for professional tree workers, arborists, tree managers, urban forestry workers and utility vegetation managers. Their website provides industry information to the public and professionals.
EUCLID is an identification key for eucalypts available for anyone to use for understanding or identifying eucalypts. It covers three genera: Angophora, Corymbia and Eucalyptus.
TREENET is an independent non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the urban forest. Their website provides a trove of freely accessible research and educational resources for government and urban forest professionals.
The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) promotes the professional practice of arboriculture and fosters a greater worldwide awareness of the benefits of trees.
TreesAreGood.org is managed by the ISA and provides educational information to the public about trees.
Overhanging branches, damage from roots and dropped foliage can lead to disputes between neighbours. Find out what you can do.
The Victorian Law Reform Commission is reviewing laws governing disputes between neighbours of private land involving trees that cause damage.
The Victorian Tree Industry Organisation (VTIO) is a networking organisation that aims to increase participation in amenity tree industry best practice by disseminating information, presenting workshops and seminars and similar industry specific events.
Photograph courtesy
David Hannah.
© 2020
