Regulations/Bushfire
Bushfire APZ clearing for Hornsby Shire properties.
BAL ratings, Asset Protection Zones, and the annual maintenance pattern for Hornsby Shire blocks backing onto Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
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8 min read
Author · Founder & Senior Arborist
John Dandan.
John leads the senior arborist team at John's Tree Services North Shore. Four decades working every street across the North Shore has given him a working map of every council's tree-preservation rules and the species-specific quirks of each suburb — useful advice he passes on to clients at quote time.
Credentials
- AQF Level 5 Arboriculture
- Four decades on the North Shore
- Council TPO advisor
Journal
Posts by John Dandan.
Seasonal/Planting Guides
Tree species that thrive on the Lower North Shore.
Harbour breeze, sandstone soil, compact blocks — the Lower North Shore has a distinctive growing environment. Six species our arborists recommend for long-term success.
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6 min read
Pricing Guide/Tree Care
Tree service prices on the North Shore — 2026.
What North Shore homeowners pay for tree removal, pruning and stump grinding in 2026. Tier-by-tier ranges, council-permit cost notes, and the four factors that move a quote by hundreds.
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9 min read
Regulations/Council Guides
TPO permits — Ku-ring-gai vs Willoughby, compared.
The two North Shore councils with the tightest tree rules differ on thresholds, species protections, and application timelines. Here's how each handles removal paperwork.
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7 min read
Storm Response/Emergency
Storm damage response — the North Shore checklist.
What to do in the first 60 minutes after a tree down on your North Shore property: safety, insurance paperwork, and when to call the after-hours arborist.
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5 min read
Tree Pruning/Seasonal
Winter pruning windows for North Shore eucalypts.
Late winter to early spring is the sweet spot for pruning Sydney blue gums, spotted gums, and angophoras. Here’s the why, the how, and the species-specific exceptions.
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6 min read
Tree Removal/Safety Guides
Safe tree removal — the process, explained.
How safe tree removal actually works on the North Shore: when it's the right call, how councils stay compliant, and the step-by-step rigging and cleanup we use on sensitive sites.
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8 min read
Regulations/Tree Removal
North Shore tree removal regulations, by council.
TPO thresholds and protected-species rules across Ku-ring-gai, Willoughby, Hornsby, Ryde, Lane Cove and Hunters Hill — plus how penalties work and where the paperwork sits.
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10 min read
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