How long is an arborist report valid for?

Darrell Mcleod

Here is a doozy I think

Been involved in a development here in metropolitan Melbourne where a property has been subdivided

It was heavily treed and under a planning overlay protecting trees as it should be

The development in the end was passed and all plans stamped by the local council and approved obviously on a certain date

As part of the development application an arborist report was done on the many trees - all good and correct

Problem is when the development was passed and stamped by council the original arborist report was well over five years old

Question is in metroplitan leafy melbourne suburb what is the maximum length of time an arborist report for such a development in a tree protected planning overlay area be valid for?

Garry Brockley

Wow five years in that climate is a long time indeed, especially when you see gums 100ft tall at 30 years, if there are no provisos within the document i would have said 2 years personally, but yes that is a doozy question!

__________________

jim1nz

Really good question!

Galbee ill agree with you, 2 years.

Interested on what full time consultants have to say here.

Cheers

Apocalypsse

With the weather we have had lately the info on the report could have changed dramatically. I'm now seeing Redgums which had about 20-30% canopy cover now hovering above 90%. Some trees aren't coping too well. I'm still a 2nd year apprentice but I would have to say 5 years is a bit long.

cte539

Every report I do, the last paragraph includes the line ''tree should be evaluated on an annual basis.''
It is a dynamic process.
Paul

Darrell Mcleod

Totally agree Paul

Jeff Darby

I feel also post storms and high winds should be mentioned..you should cover all bases.

As for development reports I think 2 years is a fair period.

__________________

Member: Australian Tree Association

Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard !

Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others

© Jeffrey J Darby 2011

Brent Ferris

I agree. 1 to 2 years should be the limit - trees change too much for a report to be valid past that, unless of course the trees are being removed and new stock planted. Then the time limit is probably irrelevant.

And then of course there are also the wishes/desires of the client for whom the report was written. Some people like a report to have no time limit -- so there should probably be an unwritten rule for arborist reports to set a length of time for validity.

Paul said it best-- " the last paragraph includes the line ''tree should be evaluated on an annual basis.''
It is a dynamic process. "

Perhaps 'should' -- should be changed to 'must' ........

__________________
My business: Tree Pruning and Removals -- Strump Removals -- Advice -- Consulting -- Arborist Reports
If you want an honest opinion, call Brent Ferris...because, Trees want to Live Too !
We do great jobs, even in small yards.

Free Estimates Oakville to Oshawa - North to Bradford (Will travel further if cost of travelling covered)

Apocalypsse

Question for OP. Are the trees staying or going, either now or in the not so distance future?

Eric Frei

I have written 2 reports recently where the subdivisions original report was written pre Nov 2008 (The Gap storms).

The retained trees finally ended up on residential house blocks but they were all storm damaged, crowns blown out and full of epicormics etc. Of course they were removed but the retention of them after Nov 2008 should have been automatically reinspected not just passed onto the land buyer.

I'd say tree report 1 to 2 years but the environmental conditions really determine the scene.

__________________

TrevMcRev

I my reports i state that it is an accurate "snap shot" of what was observed at the time of inspection and (in safety related reports) should be reinspected annually.

For development, it is really up to the council, but 5 years seems a bit too long.
I would ask for a revised report.

I have schools that i have done annual revisions of the initial report for that sort of period and it is quite amazing the changes in trees over that period.