Byron Bay Tree Services

Byron Bay Tree Services is a consulting arboriculture practice based at Broken Head, just south of Byron Bay. It does not cut trees. The work is assessment and reporting, carried out by AQF Level 5 consulting arborists for owners, builders, designers and councils who need a defensible written opinion on a tree.

Managing director Alex Nowell started in the industry in 1996 and has more than 25 years in tree care behind him. He holds a Diploma of Arboriculture at AQF Level 5, is ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) and a registered Quantified Tree Risk Assessment (QTRA) user, and belongs to Arboriculture Australia, the International Society of Arboriculture and the Queensland Arboricultural Association. His interest in trees goes back to studying bonsai at twelve.

Most of the reporting is development related. A preliminary arboricultural assessment comes first on the majority of sites, covering tree identification and mapping, whether each tree is worth retaining, and Tree Protection Zone calculations. From there an arboricultural impact assessment report works through what the proposed build actually does to the trees, with tree protection plans written to AS 4970-2009. Development application reports are prepared to line up with council requirements rather than leave an applicant arguing the point later.

Where the question is safety rather than development, a detailed risk assessment report is produced using TRAQ, QTRA or VALID, so the finding is tied to a recognised method instead of a judgement call. Tree surveys and audits cover health and condition across a whole site, including tree pest and disease diagnosis, which suits body corporates, schools and larger landholdings. Expert witness services are available for neighbour disputes running under the Trees (Disputes Between Neighbours) Act 2006.

The practice works across Byron Bay and the wider Byron Shire, south to Ballina and Lismore, north through Tweed Heads and over the border to the Gold Coast, taking in northern NSW and south east Queensland. Phone 0402 364 852 or email [email protected].