Mitchell Shire Council Tree Removal Services

Mitchell’s Tree Removal Experts

From the growing southern communities of Wallan and Kilmore to Broadford, Seymour and Wandong, Milone’s Tree Solutions provides practical tree care for homes, rural properties and developing land. Our qualified arborists bring 20+ years’ experience to safe, considered tree removal, tree trimming and stump grinding.

We also respond when a tree needs urgent attention through emergency tree services, and can help you understand the role of local council regulations before work begins. Whether you need careful tree lopping or advice for a larger vegetation project, we tailor the approach to your site and its planning controls.

Understanding Mitchell Shire Council Tree Protection Requirements

Mitchell Shire advises that removing trees, shrubs or grasses may require a permit, particularly where native vegetation or a planning overlay applies. The relevant protections sit mainly within the Mitchell Planning Scheme, rather than a private-land tree local law or standalone significant-tree register. Heritage Overlay tree controls can also protect non-native trees at listed heritage places.

When You Need a Permit

A planning permit may be required where any of the following applies:

• The work would remove, destroy or lop native vegetation under Clause 52.17, including dead native vegetation unless an exemption applies.
• The land is affected by VPO1 Roadside and Corridor Protection or VPO2 Freeway Environs Protection, which regulate removal, destruction or lopping of native vegetation.
• The tree is in SLO1 Kilmore Historic Outdoor Recreation Precinct or SLO3 Kilmore Creek Environs, where identified native and historic or mature exotic vegetation is controlled.
• An Environmental Significance Overlay, including the Rural Conservation Area or Urban Conservation Area, affects the site and its vegetation provisions apply.
• The land is affected by the Erosion Management Overlay, which can require a permit for removal, destruction or lopping of any vegetation, native or exotic.
• The property is a Heritage Overlay place whose schedule marks tree controls as applying.
• 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

Some planning-scheme exemptions may apply, depending on the land and the exact work:

• In designated bushfire prone areas, the 10/30 and 10/50 bushfire exemptions may allow any vegetation, including trees, within 10 metres of eligible accommodation, and vegetation other than trees within the applicable 30- or 50-metre distance.
• Dead native vegetation may be exempt, except for a standing dead tree with a trunk diameter of 40 cm or more measured 1.3 metres above ground.
• Only the part of vegetation presenting an immediate risk of personal injury or property damage may be removed as emergency work.
• Maintenance pruning may be exempt where no more than one-third of each plant’s foliage is lopped or pruned, subject to the limitations in Clause 52.17.
• VPO1 does not apply to exotic vegetation, while VPO2 does not apply to dead or exotic vegetation.

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

Mitchell Shire Council Permit Application Process

Mitchell’s published planning fee schedule does not assign a specific tree-removal class, so Council must confirm the fee that applies to a particular application. Its current schedule lists:

• VicSmart applications in the listed classes at $226.94.
• Class 1 use-only and Class 22 applications at $1,496.09.
• Class 11 development applications with an estimated cost of $0 to $100,000 at $1,302.78.

How to Apply

Use Mitchell Shire’s Removing trees, shrubs or grasses on your property page to prepare your application. Council identifies a completed planning-permit application, a recent title, site plan, tree location, detailed photos and an arborist report among the required documents; include clear species details, measurements and your reason for the proposed work. 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 Mitchell Shire Council Resources

• Managing trees and vegetation
• Removing trees, shrubs or grasses on your property
• Planning services fees and charges

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 Mitchell Shire

Mitchell’s township canopy combines established eucalypts with historic plantings, reflecting the contrast between the shire’s growth corridor, rural land and older town centres.

• River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis): At 8.4% of the township tree population, it is Mitchell’s most common street tree.
• Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa): This is one of the most important species for canopy contribution across the townships.
• Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora): Yellow Box is also a key canopy-contributing species in the council’s urban forest assessment.
• Manna Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis): Manna Gum is a locally important township species and is known as Wurun in Woiwurrung.
• Candlebark and Monterey Pine: Mature Candlebarks and historic Monterey Pines are specifically associated with the Kilmore Historic Outdoor Recreation Precinct.