Benefits of trees
Trees are an important part of any City and provide various benefits. Trees may increase property values, reduce heat in our suburbs and promote well-being. Trees clean the air, create natural screens and provide habitat. They also act as wind and noise buffers and reduce the need for artificial cooling in adjacent buildings.
Street trees for residents
A street tree is a tree the City takes care of that's growing in the area within a road reserve, verge, or median strip. The portion of a road reserve that adjoins a lot or reserve and is bounded by the road is referred to as the ‘nature strip’ or ‘'verge’.
The City supplies street trees of 35L-90L container size for resident's verges, covering the cost of purchasing, planting and future pruning. The City will water the tree for the first three years, although residents are encouraged to supplement these waterings and inform the City if they have irrigation as this will allow us to reduce watering.
Request a street tree
The street tree planting requests have closed for the 2024 season.
You will be able to request new street tree for the 2025 planting season, from 1 August 2024.
In the interim, if you have not done so already, please have a think about what species you would like and the location of the tree. Then return to this page in early August and make your request.
The form for street tree requests, will be updated over the next few months, with species and stock availability for the 2025 planting season.
What tree species can I choose?
The type of tree species received depends on:
- Where the resident lives (zone), as different species are suited to different environments
- Width of the verge
- Overhead power lines
- Context of where the tree is likely to be planted.
The City aims for a diverse mix of tree species to help resilience against pests. While many native trees are planted in Cockburn, there is a limited range of suitable trees due to the smaller lot sizes in current developments.
Native trees, typically large evergreens with invasive roots, may not be suitable for smaller verges. As a result, smaller, non-native deciduous trees are often preferred. These trees shed their leaves in winter, allowing sunlight to warm homes and brighten interiors during the colder months.
When will my verge tree be planted?
Once the tree species has been decided, the City adds it to its seasonal tree order which is submitted to the nursery approximately 12 months before the planting season. Most residential verge trees are planted from May to October each year. Depending on when you request a tree, it can take between one to 12 months for it to be planted on your verge.
Street tree species
Common Name |
Species |
Approximate Mature Height and Width
*at 20 - 30 years
|
Suitable for Narrow Verges (Yes/ No) |
Suitable below Powerlines (Yes/ No) |
WA Weeping Peppermint |
Agonis flexuosa |
6m-10m x 8m |
No |
Yes |
Smooth-barked Apple |
Angophora costata |
10m-30m x 12m |
No |
No |
Illawarra Flame Tree |
Brachychiton acerfolia |
10m x 6m |
Yes |
No |
Red Flowering Gum |
Corymbia ficifolia |
6m-15m x 10m |
No |
Yes |
Tuckeroo |
Cupaniopsis anacardiodes |
6m-12m x 7m |
Yes |
Yes |
Bottlebrush |
Callistemon kings park special |
5m x 6m |
Yes |
No |
Weeping Bottlebrush |
Callistemon viminalis |
7m x 5m |
Yes |
Yes |
Yellow Gum |
Eucalyptus leucoxylon ‘rosea’ |
10m-15m x 7m |
No |
Yes |
Red Ironbark |
Eucalyptus sideroxylon ‘rosea’ |
15m-20m x 10m-15m |
No |
No |
Coral Gum |
Eucalyptus torquata |
6m x 3m |
Yes |
No |
Red Cottonwood |
Hibiscus tilaceus rubra |
8m x 5m |
Yes |
Yes |
Jacaranda |
Jacaranda mimosifolia |
15m x 10m |
No |
Yes |
Crepe Myrtle |
Lagestroemia sp. |
6m-8m x 4m |
Yes |
Yes |
Crepe Myrtle |
Lagerstroemia indica |
6m-8m x 4m |
Yes |
Yes |
Liquidamber |
Liquidamber styraciflua |
30m x 6m |
No |
No |
Broad Leaf Paperpark |
Melaleuca quinquenervia |
8m-12m x 2m-4m |
No |
Yes |
Olive Tree |
Olea europa |
7m x 4m |
Yes |
Yes |
Ornamental Pear |
Pyrus calleryana "Cleveland select" |
9m x 7m |
No |
Yes |
Ornamental Pear |
Pyrus calleryana capital |
10m x 3m |
No |
Yes |
Manchurian Pear |
Pyrus ussuriensis |
9m x 7m |
No |
No |
Chinese Elm |
Ulmus parvifolia |
13m x 10m |
No |
No |
Pin Cushion Hakea |
Hakea laurina |
5m x 4m |
Yes |
Yes |
Water Gum |
Tristaniopsis laurina “luscious” |
7m-12m x 4m |
No |
Yes |
Norfolk Island Pine |
Araucaria heterophylla |
30m x 10m |
No |
No |
Hong Kong Orchid |
Bauhinia x blakeana |
8m x 8m |
No |
No |
Kurrajong |
Brachychiton populneus |
8m x 4m |
Yes |
No |
Queensland Bottle Tree |
Brachychiton rupestris |
7m x 4m |
Yes |
No |
Spotted Gum |
Corymbia maculata |
20m x 10m |
No |
No |
Royal Poinciana |
Delonix regia |
12m x 10m |
No |
Yes |
Coral Tree |
Erythrina sykesii |
15m x 8m |
No |
Yes |
Illyarie or Red Cap Gum |
Eucalyptus erythrocorys |
6m x 6m |
No |
No |
Fuchsia Mallee |
Eucalyptus forrestianna |
6m x 3m - 4m |
No |
Yes |
Tuart Tree |
Eucalyptus gomphocephala |
30m x 10m |
No |
No |
Swamp Mallet |
Eucalyptus spathulata |
6m-8m x 4m |
Yes |
Yes |
Claret Ash |
Fraxinus oxycarpa "Raywood"
|
12m x 7m |
No |
No |
Honey Locust |
Gleditsia triacanthos |
12m x 7m |
No |
No |
Honey Locust |
Gleditsia tricanthos inermis |
12m x 10m |
No |
No |
Red Flowering Paperbark |
Melaleuca viridiflora "Red" |
8m x 4m |
Yes |
Yes |
Paulownia |
Paulownia tomentosa |
15m x 10m |
No |
No |
Chinese Pistachio |
Pistacia chinensis |
8m x 6m |
No |
No |
London Plane Tree |
Platanus acerfolia |
30m x 10m |
No |
No |
Oriental Plane Tree |
Platanus orientalis |
30m x 10m |
No |
No |
Ornamental Flowering Plum |
Prunus cerasifera sp. |
5m x 4m |
No |
Yes |
Chinese Tallow Tree |
Sapium sebiferum syn Triadica sebiferum |
8m x 3m - 4m |
Yes |
Yes |
Street tree pruningThe City is responsible for pruning all street trees on residential verges in Cockburn. The City follows the Australian Pruning Standards, which determine whether a tree should be pruned and the type of pruning done. The Australian standard does not cover powerline clearance pruning as this is done to industry best practice as per Western Power line clearance requirements.
Following Australian Standards, the City will consider pruning a street tree if it:
- Improves the safety, structure and health of the tree
- Provides clearance for people and vehicles moving below the tree. Generally, this is a minimum of 2m over the footpath and 3.5-4.5m over a carriageway or road
- Prevents branches from overhanging a property boundary
- Maintains safe clearance zones from powerlines as per Western Power requirements
- Maintains a clear line of sight for vehicles and cyclists.
The City will generally not prune a street tree if:
- Allergies are experienced by a resident/s
- The tree is dropping leaves (the City undertakes scheduled and additional road sweeping in areas with heavy leaf litter)
- The tree is shading solar panels
- The tree is blocking views.
How to get your street tree pruned
Getting your street tree pruned generally takes up to eight weeks, depending on City officer and contractor availability and if the tree requires multiple forms of pruning (e.g. under pruning, powerline clearance, Traffic Management, etc).
If you believe your street tree needs pruning:
- Email [email protected] submit your request online or call 08 9411 3444
- City reviews the pruning request, conducts a site visit if required and agrees the tree requires pruning
- City Officer allocates pruning request to internal crew if they can do this or
- City lodges pruning works with an external contractor
- City notifies the customer via email or phone, that a request has been raised with the internal crew or external contractor
- Internal crew or Contractor completes pruning
- The City updates the customer request, advising the resident that the job has been completed, if they have an email address associated with the request.
If the City concludes that no pruning is required, the City contacts the resident to inform them that pruning will not occur and the reasoning behind the decision.
If a resident believes a City tree has caused root damage to their property, they can email [email protected], including a description and image.
A City Officer will assess the tree roots and advise the resident of the outcome. They will also send the information to their insurance company for assessment. Residents can also send the information to their own insurance companies.
If you would like your street tree assessed for removal, please contact us.
Street tree removalThe City is responsible for the removal of verge and reserve trees. Trees will only be considered for removal, under the following circumstances:
- Dead
- Diseases
- Structurally unsound
- Obstructing an approved works program, by either the City or utilities
- Tree root damage to public and/or private assets, when root barrier installation is not viable
- Damage by a declared storm event
- Identified as an invasive species.
If you would like more information on street tree removals or would like to have a street tree assessed, please
contact us.
More information and contact
For more information or requests for street tree planting, pruning or removal, please call 08 9411 3444 or
email us.