Central Goldfields Shire Council Tree Removal Services

Central Goldfields’ Tree Removal Experts

Milone’s Tree Solutions serves Maryborough, Carisbrook, Dunolly, Talbot and Bealiba with practical tree care for homes, farms and regional townships. Here, tree work needs to account for native vegetation, dry conditions, access and bushfire planning.

Our qualified arborists bring 20+ years’ experience to tree removal, tree trimming, tree lopping and stump grinding. For unsafe trees or fallen limbs, our emergency tree services can help assess immediate risk and we can explain relevant local council regulations.

Understanding Central Goldfields Shire Council Tree Protection Requirements

Planning controls are central to tree removal in Central Goldfields Shire. VPO1 is the principal native-vegetation control, while SLO1 covers the Cairn Curran Reservoir landscape. Check property-specific mapping before work starts.

When You Need a Permit

A planning permit may be needed where any of the following apply:

• You propose to remove, destroy or lop native vegetation protected by VPO1.
• The clearing is within VPO1 and must be described by extent, watercourses and land with a gradient over 20 per cent. Clearing over 4,000 square metres also requires a report from a suitably qualified person.
• The site is within SLO1, which applies to the Cairn Curran Reservoir landscape.
• Native vegetation, including dead native vegetation, is affected by Clause 52.17.
• Another property control applies, such as an Environmental Significance Overlay, Heritage Overlay, Erosion Management Overlay or Bushfire Management Overlay.
• Under the new statewide Clause 52.37 Canopy Trees provision (introduced 15 September 2025), a planning permit is also required to remove, destroy or lop established canopy trees (over 5 metres tall with a trunk circumference over 0.5 metres and a canopy of 4 metres or more) in most residential zones.

When a Permit May Not Be Required

Exemptions vary according to the control and site:

• SLO1 does not require a permit to remove a dead or dangerous tree or branches.
• SLO1 also exempts routine maintenance on land managed by the state environment department.
• VPO1 lists no exemptions, so do not rely on a general assumption that a private native tree can be removed without a permit.
• In a designated Bushfire Prone Area, the state 10/30 rule may apply to eligible existing accommodation buildings.
• The 10/50 rule may apply where the Bushfire Management Overlay applies. A state boundary-fence clearing exemption also exists.

However, we always recommend contacting Central Goldfields Shire Council or consulting with our professional arborists to confirm whether a permit is required for your specific situation.

Note: trees on nature strips, road reserves and parks are managed by Central Goldfields Shire Council. Report concerns about council-managed trees to council rather than arranging private works.

Central Goldfields Shire Council Permit Application Process

Planning fees depend on the relevant development class. The published schedule does not identify a tree-specific fee, so confirm the current applicable charge with Council before lodging.

How to Apply

Check the zone and overlays for the property through Council’s planning information and Community Compass, then use the Planning Forms and Fees page to obtain the application form. Describe the species, measurements, reason for removal and proposed works, and provide photographs and an arborist report where relevant. Milone’s Tree Solutions can prepare a comprehensive arborist report to support your application, and our tree removal permit advice service can guide you through the process.

Official Central Goldfields Shire Council Resources

• Central Goldfields planning information and Community Compass
• Central Goldfields Planning Forms and Fees
• Central Goldfields VPO1 planning scheme control

Sources last checked: 7 August 2026.

The information provided on this page is intended as general guidance only. Permit requirements for tree pruning, removal, and any works vary between local councils and may change without notice. If in doubt, or for the avoidance of doubt, Milone’s Tree Solutions strongly advises all customers to conduct their own due diligence and contact their local council directly to confirm whether permits, consents or approvals are required before proceeding with any tree works. Milone’s Tree Solutions accepts no responsibility or liability for any loss, penalty, or action resulting from reliance on the information contained herein or from failure to obtain the necessary permits prior to works being undertaken.

Common Trees Across Central Goldfields Shire

Central Goldfields combines box-ironbark country and historic park plantings.

• Box-Ironbark forest eucalypts: Box-Ironbark forests are the defining native vegetation type in the Shire, making native vegetation controls particularly relevant.
• Red-flowering Ironbark (Eucalyptus sideroxylon ‘Rosea’): Prince’s Park in Maryborough contains a fine stand of 17 trees north of the tennis courts.
• Dutch Elm and other Elms: Rows of Dutch Elms frame the Prince’s Park band rotunda, with more elms near the grandstand and Holyrood Street.
• Monterey Pine: Three rows around Lake Victoria and along Burns Road remain a major landscape feature.
• Weeping Willow: A row follows the water’s edge of Lake Victoria.
• Phoenician Juniper and Red Cedar: Prince’s Park contains Victoria’s only recorded Phoenician Juniper and three Red Cedars planted about 1988.