The Dunedin City Council plays an active role designing, maintaining and managing the look and feel of Dunedin City's landscape, and this includes being responsible for a number of trees in Dunedin's parks, reserves, and city streets.
Tagged trees
We put tags on DCC-owned trees on reserves and streets so staff and contractors can identify and find them. It will also help us develop our street and reserve tree inventories.
- Blue with white numbering for reserve trees.
- Green with black numbering for street trees
- Yellow with black numbering for bush, shelterbelt or plantation trees
Trees on public property
Street tree planting
To get a street tree planted on your grass verge you need to complete a street tree planting application form and return it to us. We will do service checks such as water and drainage before we approve your request.
Requests for street tree planting up until mid-December in any one year, are actioned the following calendar year. This means that your request will not be carried out immediately.
Fill out the application form or contact us by phone 03 477 4000 or email dcc@dcc.govt.nz to have one sent to you.
Tree planting in our parks and reserves
There are design guidelines and cost implications that impact on the look and feel of our city's parks and reserves. If you have ideas on various trees, plants and shrubs that you would like to see added to our parks and reserves, let us know by phoning 03 477 4000 or emailing dcc@dcc.govt.nz.
If you would like to have a commemorative tree planted in one of the city's parks or reserves, please contact us by phone 03 477 4000 or email dcc@dcc.govt.nz for information on Council policy and how to proceed.
Tree maintenance
Are you having trouble seeing at an intersection because a tree is blocking your view? Having trouble walking along the footpath because of overgrown shrubs? Or do you know of any park, reserve or cemetery that needs to have its trees or shrubs pruned back?
If you have any questions or complaints about trees on the roadside or in DCC-owned parks and reserves, please let us know using our online form or contact us by phone 03 477 4000 or email dcc@dcc.govt.nz.
Trees blown over or fallen onto the road or footpath
When a tree has blown onto or otherwise falls on to the road or footpath, it causes problems for pedestrians and/or motorists, and needs to be removed as soon as possible.
If the tree has come from private property, the owner of the property needs to remove it or arrange for it to be removed. Failing that, we will arrange for a contractor to remove it and recover the cost from the property owner.
If the tree is a street tree or a park or reserve tree we need to know so we can arrange for its removal. Please contact us by phone 03 477 4000 or email dcc@dcc.govt.nz.
Trees in power lines
When trees are growing close to power lines, or the power lines have become entangled in the trees, Contact Aurora Energy (link to external website, new window). Provide the location details of the trees and they will arrange for an inspection to assess what work needs to be carried out.
Significant trees (known as scheduled trees in the 2GP)
Some Dunedin trees are protected under the provisions of the partially operative Dunedin City Second Generation District Plan (2GP) – Appendix A1.3 Schedule of Trees. Before a person can modify (perform maintenance including emergency work) or remove a significant tree, a resource consent is required. These types of consent applications are free – please seek advice from a Resource Consent Planner. Contact us by phone 03 477 4000 or email planning@dcc.govt.nz or pop into the Planning enquiries desk in the Customer Services Centre on the Ground Floor, Civic Centre in the Octagon.
Resource consent application form - to remove a scheduled tree
Resource consent application form - for maintenance or emergency works on a scheduled tree
To find out about decisions on significant trees which was undertaken for the Proposed Second Generation Dunedin City District Plan (2GP) please refer to the Scheduled Trees Decision Report.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the Schedule of Trees in the 2GP
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What is the Schedule of Trees?
The schedule contains a list of trees that have been assessed as being significant and are protected in the Second Generation Dunedin City District Plan (2GP). A resource consent is required to remove or modify trees that are on the schedule (see 2GP Rule 7.3.2), or to undertake certain activities in close proximity to them (see 2GP Rule 7.5.2).
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How can I find out if a tree is scheduled?
Trees on the schedule are listed in Appendix A1.3 to the 2GP. This list includes both individual trees and tree groups. Trees on the schedule are referred to as “scheduled trees”. Each scheduled tree, or tree group, has a tree number and notes on the tree location, species, common name, and Māori name.
Scheduled trees also appear on the 2GP planning map, denoted by green dots with the tree/tree group number.
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Why do trees get scheduled?
Trees can contribute positively to amenity values and the quality of the environment. They can also have important historic or scientific values. The 2GP seeks to protect trees that contribute significantly to these values to ensure the community can continue to enjoy them into the future, in accordance with 2GP Objective 2.4.1 and Policy 2.4.1.2. In most cases, trees around Dunedin are only protected when they are scheduled in the 2GP.
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How do trees become scheduled or unscheduled?
Trees can only be added to or removed from the schedule of trees through a formal public process to change the 2GP. The process includes assessing trees to see if they meet the criteria to be scheduled and, if so, formally proposing their inclusion in the 2GP. Formal proposals to schedule trees in the 2GP are open to public submissions and a public hearing. A hearing panel makes the decision on whether to schedule a tree or not.
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What criteria are used to assess trees for scheduling?
The criteria for assessing whether a tree should be scheduled are set in 2GP Policy 2.4.1.2. This is supported by use of the industry best-practice method called the Standard Tree Evaluation Method (STEM).
STEM assessments are undertaken by professional arborists and landscape architects and evaluate the condition of the tree, its amenity characteristics, and any notable features including stature, and historic or scientific values.
Trees that score highly in a STEM assessment (a score of 145 or greater) are typically scheduled. However, the STEM score is also weighed against any risk the tree poses to safety, or any potential for damage to existing infrastructure, buildings, or structures.
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How can I suggest a tree for scheduling?
Nominations can be made using our Suggested scheduled tree nomination form. Nominations are collected by the DCC and reviewed when a suitable plan change process is underway. During a plan change process that includes consideration of scheduled trees, there will be an opportunity to make a public submission to suggest a tree for scheduling.
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What rules apply to scheduled trees?
Resource consent is required for:
- modifying a scheduled tree (2GP Rule 7.3.2.2)
- removal of a scheduled tree (2GP rules 7.3.2.1 and 7.3.2.3)
- activities that involve ground excavation or installation of impermeable surfaces on the ground under a scheduled tree e.g., new buildings or driveways (2GP Rule 7.5.2).
The resource consent process enables the effects of the proposed activities to be evaluated and options for avoiding or mitigating these effects to be explored.
There are no application fees for resource consent applications involving modification or removal of a scheduled tree. However, the tree owner will likely need to engage a suitably qualified arborist as part of preparing their application.
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What if I want to cut down a scheduled tree?
You must apply for a resource consent and the application must be granted before you can cut down a scheduled tree. In many cases, applications to cut down scheduled trees will be publicly notified so other people can make submissions. To find out more, please seek advice from a resource consent planner at the planning enquiries desk at the DCC Customer Services Centre.
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Does DCC offer assistance for maintaining scheduled trees?
The maintenance of scheduled trees is the responsibility of the property owner in the same way it is for any other tree on their property. The Fund for Maintaining Significant Trees provides some financial assistance to scheduled tree owners to help with maintenance costs. The fund was established to recognise the contribution scheduled trees make to the amenity and environmental quality of the city.
The DCC Fund for Maintaining Significant Trees brochure contains Information on eligibility criteria and the process to apply for funding.
To apply for funding use our Application for financial assistance for work on significant tree form.
Fund for maintaining significant trees
The fund for maintaining significant trees provides a financial incentive to assist owners with the maintenance of scheduled trees listed in Appendix A1.3 Schedule of Trees of the 2GP. You must submit your application, including a quote from an arborist, prior to commencing the physical works. The maximum amount of financial assistance per significant tree is limited to $250 (inclusive of GST).
Fund for maintaining significant trees brochure. Click to enlarge (new window)