Murrindindi Shire Council Tree Removal Services

Murrindindi’s Tree Removal Experts

Milone’s Tree Solutions works across Murrindindi’s forested, highly bushfire-prone landscapes, including Yea, Alexandra, Kinglake, Marysville and Eildon. Our qualified arborists bring 20+ years’ experience to careful tree removal, practical tree trimming and complete stump grinding for town and rural properties.

When a tree is damaged or unsafe, our emergency tree services team can respond with a safety-first assessment. We also help owners navigate local council regulations and understand the appropriate scope for tree lopping before work starts in this vegetation-rich shire.

Understanding Murrindindi Shire Council Tree Protection Requirements

Murrindindi Shire states that native vegetation on private land is protected under Clause 52.17 and that removing, lopping, trimming or pruning standing trees may require a planning permit. Planning controls, rather than a private-land tree local law or standalone significant-tree register, are the key issue. The standout local control is VPO1 Marysville Vegetation Protection Area, which requires a permit for both native and exotic vegetation.

When You Need a Permit

A planning permit may be needed where:

• Native vegetation, including dead native vegetation, is proposed for removal, destruction or lopping under Clause 52.17, unless an exemption applies.
• The property is in VPO1 Marysville Vegetation Protection Area, which regulates the removal, destruction or lopping of native or exotic vegetation.
• The land is affected by EMO1 Erosion Management Overlay, which can require a permit for any vegetation, native or exotic.
• The property is a Heritage Overlay place whose schedule identifies tree controls as applying; the schedule includes heritage plantings such as oaks, elms, cypresses, pines and an Avenue of Honour.
• Native vegetation removal requires assessment through the NVIM process, including the avoid, minimise and offset approach.
• A site-specific control or agreement affecting the title also applies to the proposed work.
• 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

The planning scheme provides exemptions, but they must be checked against the particular land and work:

• In designated bushfire prone areas, eligible pre-10 September 2009 houses may use the 10/30 or 10/50 exemptions: trees can be cleared only within 10 metres, while vegetation other than trees may be cleared within the applicable 30- or 50-metre distance.
• Dead native vegetation may be exempt, except a standing dead tree with a trunk diameter of 40 cm or more measured 1.3 metres above ground.
• Emergency work can remove only the part of vegetation presenting an immediate risk of personal injury or damage to property.
• Maintenance pruning may be exempt where no more than one-third of a plant’s foliage is lopped or pruned, subject to the limits in Clause 52.17.
• In Marysville VPO1, environmental weeds, any native or exotic tree under one metre high, approved-management-plan works and certain public-utility works are excluded.

However, we always recommend contacting Murrindindi 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 Murrindindi Shire Council. Report concerns about council-managed trees to council rather than arranging private works.

Murrindindi Shire Council Permit Application Process

Planning application fees are set by the State Government and Council confirms the current charge for an individual application. Murrindindi does not publish a specific tree- or vegetation-removal permit amount on its planning-fees page.

How to Apply

Begin through Murrindindi’s Planning permits page by contacting a planning officer to confirm whether a permit is required. Council’s process provides for a pre-application meeting, lodgement through the Planning and Building Portal, potential public notice and a decision by a delegate or Council. Include species identification, tree measurements, the reason for removal, photos and an arborist report; native-vegetation applications also need information for the NVIM assessment pathway and any required offset. 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 Murrindindi Shire Council Resources

• Removing trees on private land
• Removal of native vegetation
• Managing Vegetation on Your Property

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 Murrindindi Shire

Murrindindi is the most heavily forested of these regional councils, so tree work may involve tall wet-forest eucalypts, roadside and riparian vegetation, or heritage trees in townships.

• Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans): This defines the Mountain Ash forest landscape in Kinglake National Park and forms the tall wet-forest overstorey in sheltered gullies and southern aspects.
• Messmate Stringybark: This species occurs with Narrow-leaf Peppermint in open eucalypt foothill forest.
• Manna Gum: Manna Gum is found in damp and riparian forest, including gullies and riparian corridors.
• Mountain Grey Gum: This is among the dry and grassy forest eucalypts occurring on ridges and exposed slopes.
• Silver Wattle (Acacia dealbata): A tall shrub or large tree of sheltered mountain slopes and watercourses, it regenerates freely after fire.
• Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon): Blackwood is one of the wattles found on local valleys, flats and drier slopes.