Greater Shepparton Council Tree Removal Services

Milone’s Tree Solutions provides professional tree removal, stump grinding, tree trimming and arborist assessment services throughout the City of Greater Shepparton. Whether you need a dangerous tree removed from your property in Shepparton, require vegetation management on rural land near Tatura, or need council-compliant tree work in Mooroopna or Kialla, our qualified arborists deliver safe, efficient results that meet all Greater Shepparton City Council planning requirements.

Greater Shepparton’s Tree Removal Experts

The City of Greater Shepparton spans a vast area across Victoria’s Goulburn Valley, encompassing the regional city of Shepparton along with major towns including Mooroopna, Tatura and Murchison, as well as dozens of smaller rural townships and localities. The municipality’s landscape features a mix of established urban streetscapes, irrigated orchards, pastoral farmland and significant remnant native vegetation along the Goulburn and Broken rivers.

Greater Shepparton retains less than 2.5% of its pre-European settlement native vegetation, making the remaining trees and vegetation particularly valuable from both an ecological and regulatory standpoint. Council takes tree protection seriously, employing a dedicated compliance officer to investigate and prosecute unauthorised vegetation removal. This means property owners across the municipality need to understand their obligations before removing or lopping any tree.

At Milone’s Tree Solutions, our qualified arborists have extensive experience working across regional Victoria, including the unique tree species and conditions found throughout the Greater Shepparton area. From managing large river red gums along the Goulburn floodplain to removing problematic trees in residential Shepparton, we combine technical expertise with a thorough understanding of council regulations to deliver professional results on every project.

Understanding Greater Shepparton Council Tree Removal Permits

Greater Shepparton City Council does not issue a standalone “tree removal permit.” Instead, tree removal on private property is regulated through Victoria’s planning permit system. Whether you need a planning permit depends on the type of vegetation, its location, and the planning overlays that apply to your property.

When You Need a Permit

A planning permit is required to remove, destroy or lop native vegetation under Clause 52.17 (Native Vegetation) of the Greater Shepparton Planning Scheme. This applies across the entire municipality and covers all native trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses, whether alive or dead.

Key points Greater Shepparton residents should be aware of:

• Native vegetation includes any plant species indigenous to Victoria, not just large trees. Even native grasses and groundcover plants are protected.
• Dead native trees with a trunk diameter of 40 cm or more at 1.3 metres above ground level also require a permit for removal. These large dead trees provide important hollow-bearing habitat for native wildlife.
• Spraying native vegetation with herbicide constitutes removal or destruction and triggers the permit requirement. Council has publicly warned residents about this issue.
• Heritage Overlay tree controls apply to numerous properties across the municipality. Where the Heritage Overlay schedule specifies that tree controls apply, every tree on that site is protected regardless of species.
• Environmental Significance Overlay (ESO) schedules cover environmentally sensitive areas including waterway corridors. Properties within ESO areas require permits for any vegetation removal.
• Vegetation Protection Overlay (VPO1) applies to identified areas of significant vegetation and requires a permit to remove, destroy or lop any vegetation within those areas.

Because the permit requirement depends on your specific property’s overlays and the type of vegetation involved, Greater Shepparton City Council strongly recommends contacting their Planning Team before proceeding with any tree work.

Permit Fees and Application Process

Planning permit fees are set by the Victorian Government, not by individual councils. For the 2025/2026 financial year, the fee for native vegetation removal under Clause 52.17 is $332.50.

Greater Shepparton City Council does not currently offer an online planning application portal. Applications are lodged in person or by mail:

• In person: By appointment at 90 Welsford Street, Shepparton VIC 3630. Phone (03) 5832 9700 to book.
• By mail: Planning and Development Branch, Greater Shepparton City Council, Locked Bag 1000, Shepparton VIC 3632.

Your application will typically need to include a completed application form, a current Certificate of Title, three sets of plans including a site plan, photographs of the vegetation, and an avoid-and-minimise statement explaining why the tree removal is necessary. Council strongly encourages pre-application consultation with a Planning Officer before lodging.

For further details on planning permits and application requirements, visit Council’s Planning FAQ page.

Important Exemptions

Several exemptions from the permit requirement exist under Clause 52.17, though residents must confirm with Council that an exemption applies to their situation before proceeding:

• Dead native vegetation is generally exempt, except standing dead trees with a trunk diameter of 40 cm or more at 1.3 metres above ground level.
• The 10/30 rule allows removal of native vegetation within 10 metres of an existing dwelling, and certain understorey clearing within 30 metres, without a permit in non-bushfire overlay areas.
• Bushfire protection allows extended clearing of up to 10 metres for all vegetation and 50 metres for understorey vegetation around a dwelling in Bushfire Management Overlay areas.
• Fire prevention notices issued under the Country Fire Authority Act 1958 allow vegetation removal as directed.
• Fence line maintenance permits minimal removal necessary for maintaining existing fences.
• Emergency situations where a tree poses an immediate risk to life or property may allow urgent removal. If a qualified arborist confirms a tree is an imminent danger, it can typically be removed provided the owner obtains written confirmation and sends a copy of the arborist report to Council.

Exemptions under environmental overlays (ESO, VPO) may differ from the standard Clause 52.17 exemptions. Always check with Council whether overlay-specific exemptions apply to your land.

Penalties for Unauthorised Removal

Unauthorised tree and vegetation removal in Greater Shepparton carries significant penalties:

• Planning infringement notices of $924.60 for individuals or $1,849.20 for companies can be issued on the spot.
• Court prosecution under Section 126 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 can result in fines of up to approximately $244,000 per offence, with continuing offences attracting penalties of approximately $12,200 per day.
• Council may also seek enforcement orders through VCAT, requiring offenders to remediate the site and purchase biodiversity offsets.

Given these substantial penalties, the cost of confirming permit requirements with Council before any tree work is negligible by comparison.

For more information about native vegetation regulations in Greater Shepparton, visit Council’s native vegetation regulations page.

Disclaimer

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.