Vegetation removal
Following the January Bushfire, several people have been impacted with fallen native trees or other types of vegetation on their property.
Clause 52.07 of the Murrindindi Planning Scheme is an emergency provision in place after events like a bushfire.
If you think a roadside tree is in imminent danger of collapse call Council on 5772 0333.
What is native vegetation and why is it important?
Native vegetation includes trees, shrubs and smaller herbs and grasses native to Victoria. It provides habitat for fauna and contributes to healthy ecosystems and waterways. Native vegetation controls aim to protect Victoria’s biodiversity.
My property was impacted by bushfire - what can I do without a permit?
Vegetation must only be removed, destroyed or lopped to the minimum extent necessary:
- To enable the removal of a building, equipment or other material that was damaged or destroyed by an emergency before 10 January 2029
- To enable the repair or reconstruction of a fence that was damaged or destroyed before 10 January 2029 for a combined maximum width of 4 metres either side of the fence.
A planning permit is not required for the removal of native vegetation if it poses an immediate risk to buildings or infrastructure.
Where possible, a qualified arborist should assess whether the vegetation is at risk of failing (such as losing a limb or collapsing).
Only the part of the vegetation that poses the immediate threat may be removed (in some instances, this may be a whole tree).
Dead standing trees that are not a danger are protected by planning regulations, as they can still provide habitat. This applies to trees with a diameter of 40cm or more at 1.3m above the ground.
What about trees on Council roads?
Council is inspecting roads and dealing with dangerous trees throughout the fire affected area. This will take some time as many roadside trees were impacted.
If you think a roadside tree is in imminent danger of collapse call Council on 5772 0333.
Due to the volume of work, Council has a staged approach to managing trees along roadsides:
Stage 1 - Make roads safe: Clear trees and debris that have fallen onto the road reserve; address driveway blockages where a property has a single point of access so residents can safely enter/exit.
Stage 2 - Secondary arborist inspections: Systematic checks across fire‑affected areas; prioritise safety while retaining and treating trees where possible to support habitat recovery.
Stage 3 - Crews will return to assess trees near fencelines along Council roads and cut back fallen trees away from fencelines. This will take several weeks.
All proposed clearing of native vegetation and trees on roadside land, including for fenceline re-establishment, may require inspection and needs Council approval.
Can I collect fallen trees for firewood?
Many roads across Murrindindi have restrictions on them. Find out the latest on Council's website.
Do not collect wood from nature strips for firewood - collection of some firewood from roadsides requires a Council permit and there are several roads where firewood collection is prohibited.
Due to the volume of fallen trees, Council is considering a firewood collection for the community and further details will be issued on Council's website or Recovery E-newsletter once details have been finalised.
More information about applying for a permit can be found at www.murrindindi.vic.gov.au/Community/Environment/Firewood-Collection
Vegetation Removal Factsheet(PDF, 1MB)