Can excavation occur within a tree protection zone?
Yes, but excavation within the tree protection zone of a protected tree may require approval and must be carefully managed. Under the Urban Forest Act 2023, certain excavation within a protected tree's protection zone is specifically treated as prohibited groundwork
Excavation can sometimes occur within a tree protection zone, but you cannot assume that it is permitted simply because the tree itself is not being removed.
Excavation can damage roots or disturb the soil needed to keep the tree healthy. For a protected tree, the Urban Forest Act controls activities within its protection zone, including excavation and root damage.
For example, excavation may become prohibited groundwork where it:
- damages the tree's root system; or
- excavates soil beyond the thresholds specified by the Urban Forest Act.
Where the proposed works involve prohibited groundwork, the appropriate approval must be obtained before undertaking the work. A Tree Management Plan (TMP) may also be required to demonstrate how the tree will be protected during construction. The current Tree Management Plan Guidelines remain in force.
Reference: Urban Forest Act 2023 – s 15, Meaning of prohibited groundwork - Urban Forest Act 2023 | HTML view
Link on the answer: https://www.legislation.act.gov.au/View/a/2023-14/current/html/2023-14.html
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| Dual Occupancy Q&A | #544 | agrees | 01/09/2026 |