Tree Removal in Spearwood Under Cockburn's New Rules

From market gardens to suburban blocks

Spearwood's history shapes its trees. For decades much of the area was market gardens, and when those gardens were subdivided the new houses often kept trees that were already there or planted windbreaks and fruit trees of their own. Today the suburb is a mix of older homes on reasonably sized blocks, newer houses and infill on smaller lots, and the trees are a mix too: remnant tuart and peppermint, melaleucas, planted eucalypts that have grown large, and old olives and figs in backyards.

Many of those trees are now mature and tall, and some are standing much closer to a house than anyone intended. That brings two questions to most Spearwood jobs. Can the tree stay with the right pruning? And if it cannot, does it need approval from the City of Cockburn before it comes down?

Cockburn's Tree Protection policy

This is the most important thing to know about tree work in Spearwood. The City of Cockburn's Tree Protection policy took effect on 28 May 2026, and it changes what you can do with larger trees on private land.

What needs approval

Under the policy, development approval is needed for "tree damaging" activity on regulated trees on private land. The City describes this as:

• removing the tree
• significant branch lopping
• actions that could damage the tree's roots, such as excavation close to the trunk.

What is a regulated tree

A regulated tree is generally a mature tree taller than 8 metres. Palms and some pest species are excluded. Trees on the City's Significant Tree Register are also covered.

What is exempt

• Routine pruning does not need approval.
• Hazardous trees are exempt.
• Bushfire management requirements are exempt.

What this means in practice

For many Spearwood gardens, a large gum or tuart that you might once have simply booked in for removal now needs an approval first. Heavy lopping, where a tree is cut right back, can also fall within the policy, while a proper maintenance prune generally will not. Work around roots matters too, so if you are building, adding a pool or trenching near a big tree, the approval question applies before any digging.

The City's current application process, costs and timeframes are best confirmed directly with the City, because the details can change and we do not publish them here. If a tree looks dangerous, ask the arborist for a written assessment of its condition and check with the City how the hazardous tree exemption is handled. Our guide, can I cut down a tree in Perth, sets out how council approvals work across the metro area.

Soil, limestone and stumps

Spearwood sits on the dune system that shares its name: yellow sand over limestone, with rock close to the surface in parts of the suburb. Trees in this ground send roots wide through the sand and down into cracks in the limestone.

That has a direct effect on stumps. A grinder can meet limestone only a short way below the surface, which can limit how deep a stump is ground and wears teeth faster. Where roots have grown into the rock, full stump removal can be slow work. Stump grinding is still the usual choice for gardens, but ask the arborist what depth is realistic on your block. If you are building, the stump and root question should be settled early, as root damage can also be caught by Cockburn's policy on regulated trees.

Lopping, pruning and the 8 metre line

Because significant branch lopping on a regulated tree can need approval, the difference between lopping and pruning matters more in Spearwood than in most suburbs.

• Pruning removes dead wood, crossing branches and low limbs, and lifts or clears the canopy from roofs and driveways. Routine pruning is exempt.
• Lopping reduces the size of the tree. Done properly, branches are cut back to sound growth points. Cutting a large tree back hard may fall within the policy.

If you want a tall tree made smaller, talk to the arborist about how much can come off within a maintenance prune, and check with the City before anything more severe. Our tree lopping page explains what a proper reduction involves.

Access on Spearwood blocks

Older homes on wider blocks often have reasonable side access, which lets a chipper or small grinder get close. Newer infill tends to have narrow side paths, houses built close to the fence and little room to lower wood. Limestone retaining walls and rockeries are common in older gardens and need protecting when pieces come down. Mention the access when you ask for a quote.

Street trees in Cockburn

Street trees in the City of Cockburn are protected by local laws, and pruning a street tree on your verge is a prohibited activity. If one is dropping limbs or causing problems, send a request to the City. The City says non-urgent requests may take up to five months, so report issues early.

Power lines, neighbours and borer

Power lines. Residents are responsible for keeping trees on private property clear of power lines, and Western Power does not cut around the service wire to the house. Western Power issues a notice when vegetation is within 30 cm of the service wire, with 40 days to have it cleared.

Neighbours. On smaller infill lots trees often overhang boundaries. Our guide to neighbour tree disputes explains what you can and cannot cut.

Shot-hole borer. All of the Perth metro area is inside the polyphagous shot-hole borer quarantine area. Check your address on DPIRD's zone map, and follow the rules on moving wood and green waste.

Costs in Spearwood

As a 2026 guide, a small tree in an open yard is often $400 to $1,000, a medium tree $1,000 to $2,500, and a large tree close to the house $2,500 to $6,000 or more. A single average stump usually grinds for $100 to $400, with limestone and large hardwood stumps toward the top of that range or above it. Any council application costs are separate. See the tree removal cost guide for more.

Getting started

If you think a tree may be over 8 metres, check with the City of Cockburn first. Then call or use the form with a photo and a note about what is near the tree, and we will arrange a local arborist to look at it and quote in writing. We ask the arborists and contractors we work with to hold the public liability cover the job needs; ask to see the certificate. We are open 7 days, 8am to 5pm.