A contentious dispute over native trees in Avalon Beach has finally reached a resolution, with one 80-year-old Flooded Gum removed and another saved through pruning after a year-long community battle.
The saga began in June 2024 when local supporters formed a human blockade to prevent the removal of four large Eucalyptus grandis trees on public land at Ruskin Rowe.
The trees had been deemed hazardous following multiple incidents between October 2023 and May 2024, including reports of falling branches that damaged a vehicle, brought down power lines, and required after-hours emergency services to restore street access. Two trees were successfully removed before the protest action prevented work on the remaining pair.
The decision was based on assessments from multiple qualified arborists, including internal and external experts at Australian Qualifications Framework levels 5 and 8, all concluding the trees posed safety risks and required removal.
However, Cr Miranda Korzy (Greens) challenged these findings, commissioning her own expert assessment from a level 8 arborist with an environmental law degree, who disputed the original risk evaluation methodology.
A challenge was raised to these findings through an independent expert assessment, commissioned from a level 8 arborist with an environmental law degree. This arborist disputed the original risk evaluation methodology.
The dispute proved costly for ratepayers, with questions on notice revealing the council spent approximately $20,000 to reschedule contractors and a further $14,000 in additional arborist consulting fees.
After obtaining further independent expert advice, council determined that while both remaining trees posed risks of dropping significant branches, only one required complete removal. The tree located on public land in the turning circle at the end of Ruskin Rowe could be preserved through strategic pruning.
Contractors returned on 30 July 2025 to complete the work. The arborists also removed an estimated an 80-year-old specimen that could have lived another 15 years.
Community members reflected on the outcome. They voiced ongoing concerns about the conflicting conclusions reached by different arborists throughout the process, and called for state regulation of the arboricultural industry.
The resolution coincides with Northern Beaches Council’s adoption of a comprehensive new Tree Management Policy in July 2025, which replaces five existing tree-related policies from the former councils and aims to increase tree cover by enhancing protection measures, promoting new or replacement planting, and improving the retention and long-term survival of healthy trees.
The importance of the region’s urban forest was highlighted, with the Northern Beaches home to an estimated 12 million trees – the greatest tree canopy coverage in metropolitan Sydney. Since 2019, tree coverage has increased by 485 hectares, with more than 5,000 trees planted annually.
“Trees play a crucial role in maintaining the health and well-being of our community, and this policy ensures we continue to protect and grow our tree canopy, benefiting both current and future generations,” the statement read.
The new policy recognises the multiple benefits trees provide, including air quality improvement, soil protection, water quality enhancement, carbon sequestration, energy conservation, noise reduction, urban cooling, and wildlife habitat provision.
Further details about the Tree Management Policy, including guidelines for tree removal and pruning on private land, are available on Northern Beaches Council’s website.
Published 12-August-2025
