Tree care on the Mid North Coast

MidCoast Council

Forster, Taree, Old Bar

Only mapped properties are covered by the Vegetation Management Policy — check the mapping first.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council

Port Macquarie, Wauchope, Laurieton

A permit is needed for trees 3m or taller, or with a 100mm trunk, in urban and environmental zones.

Kempsey Shire Council

Kempsey, Crescent Head, South West Rocks

Application for Permission to Clear Vegetation (PDF) under Chapter B10 of the Kempsey DCP.

Identification

Rough, dark fibrous bark on the lower trunk giving way abruptly to smooth white or cream bark above — the “black butt” that gives it its name. Long narrow leaves, straight dominant trunk.

Typical size & form

Commonly 30–40m in forest, often 20–30m in suburban settings. Straight trunk with a relatively narrow crown high up.

Local occurrence

One of the most common large eucalypts through the Mid North Coast, from Forster to Kempsey. Frequent in older residential streets and on bush blocks.

Common issues

Branch shedding in dry periods, borer activity in stressed trees, and root damage from nearby excavation. Height means even small limbs carry significant energy when they fall.

Storm & bushfire considerations

Sheds limbs in high wind. The rough lower bark holds fuel; the smooth upper trunk is comparatively fire-resistant.

Pruning considerations

Responds reasonably to crown thinning. Avoid heavy reduction of the leader. Height usually means an elevated work platform or climbing.

Identification

Distinctive smooth, dimpled bark shedding in patches to leave a mottled cream, grey and pinkish surface. Straight trunk, glossy narrow leaves.

Typical size & form

Typically 25–35m with a straight trunk and an open, spreading crown in the upper third.

Local occurrence

Widespread across the region, particularly on drier ridges and slopes. Very common as a retained tree on developed blocks.

Common issues

Prone to limb failure at tight branch unions. Surface roots can lift paving and paths. Sensitive to root zone compaction.

Storm & bushfire considerations

Large upper limbs can fail in strong wind. Smooth bark sheds rather than accumulating, which reduces fuel at the trunk.

Pruning considerations

Tolerates selective thinning well. Watch for included bark at branch unions — these are common failure points and worth assessing.

Identification

Soft, fibrous, reddish-brown bark that persists to the small branches. Leaves are glossy on top and paler underneath, giving the canopy a distinctive two-tone look in wind.

Typical size & form

Commonly 30–40m in good conditions with a dense, well-formed crown.

Local occurrence

Common on the better soils of the Mid North Coast, particularly on eastern slopes and in wetter gullies.

Common issues

Susceptible to root problems in prolonged wet conditions. Dense canopy carries significant weight; large limbs can be heavy.

Storm & bushfire considerations

Dense crown catches wind. The persistent fibrous bark carries fire readily and is a significant fuel consideration.

Pruning considerations

Thinning to reduce wind loading is often worthwhile on exposed sites. Poor pruning cuts on Tallowwood tend to produce heavy epicormic regrowth.

Identification

Smooth bark shedding in irregular patches leaving blue-grey, white and reddish tones. Often a shorter, heavier trunk with large spreading limbs.

Typical size & form

Usually 20–30m with a broad, spreading crown and heavy horizontal limbs.

Local occurrence

Common on flats and river margins throughout the Macleay and Hastings valleys, and on many rural properties.

Common issues

Large horizontal limbs are prone to failure, particularly on older trees. Prone to hollowing, which can be both a hazard and a habitat value.

Storm & bushfire considerations

Heavy limbs over a wide spread mean failures can be significant. Frequently involved in storm callouts across the region.

Pruning considerations

End-weight reduction on long horizontal limbs is often more useful than general thinning. Assess unions carefully before any work.

Identification

Smooth blue-grey to white bark over most of the trunk with a short rough stocking at the base. Tall and very straight.

Typical size & form

Can exceed 40m in good conditions. Straight trunk with a relatively compact crown.

Local occurrence

Found on the richer soils and in sheltered gullies through the region, and retained on many older properties.

Common issues

Sensitive to root disturbance and prolonged waterlogging. Height and straight form mean removals often require careful rigging.

Storm & bushfire considerations

Tall form makes it vulnerable in severe wind, especially where surrounding trees have been removed and it has become newly exposed.

Pruning considerations

Prefers light, selective work. Heavy pruning tends to produce vigorous, poorly attached regrowth.

Identification

Short fibrous brown bark at the base transitioning to smooth pinkish-grey above. Leaves cluster at branch ends in distinctive whorls.

Typical size & form

Typically 15–25m in cultivation with a dense, rounded, well-behaved crown.

Local occurrence

Extremely common as a street and park tree through Port Macquarie, Taree and Kempsey, and in many established gardens.

Common issues

Surface roots can lift paving and interfere with services. Dense canopy creates heavy shade, which is often the reason people call.

Storm & bushfire considerations

Generally wind-firm and one of the more reliable species in storms. Less prone to major limb failure than the eucalypts.

Pruning considerations

Tolerates pruning well and is a good candidate for crown lifting and selective thinning to improve light.

Identification

Dense, low-branching evergreen with a broad rounded crown. Glossy oval leaves with three main veins from the base, pale underneath, releasing a strong camphor smell when crushed. Bark is grey-brown and finely fissured. Small black berries in summer.

Typical size & form

Commonly 15–20m with a crown often as wide as the tree is tall. Branches low and heavily, frequently with several competing stems from near ground level.

Local occurrence

Widespread through the Mid North Coast — old farm boundaries, creek lines, back paddocks and older residential blocks. Planted widely for shade before its weed status was understood. It is a Weed of National Significance and is listed as a priority weed across much of the region.

Common issues

Vigorous surface roots that lift paving, block drains and invade sewer lines. Heavy low limbs with included bark at the unions, which can split. Prolific seeding spread by birds, so removing one tree often means dealing with seedlings for years. Dense shade suppresses everything beneath it.

Storm & bushfire considerations

Brittle wood and heavy horizontal limbs make it a common storm casualty. Multi-stemmed trees with tight forks are the ones most likely to split. Not fire-resistant, but the dense green canopy carries little dry fuel.

Pruning considerations

Responds to pruning with vigorous regrowth, so reduction is rarely a long-term answer. Removal is usually the better option given its weed status. Cut stumps reshoot readily, so stump grinding matters more with this species than most.

Identification

Gnarled, often multi-stemmed form with rough grey bark. Leaves are dark green above and distinctly silver-white underneath. Yellow flower spikes.

Typical size & form

Usually 5–15m, often wind-shaped and leaning on exposed coastal sites.

Local occurrence

Iconic along the immediate coastline from Forster to Kempsey — dunes, headlands and coastal reserves.

Common issues

Prone to limb failure in old age. Salt and wind exposure produces irregular, sometimes unstable form.

Storm & bushfire considerations

Wind-shaped trees are generally well adapted, but old specimens can drop major limbs. Often protected in coastal zones.

Pruning considerations

Prune conservatively. Heavy pruning is poorly tolerated and can kill sections of the crown.

Identification

Unmistakable symmetrical form with horizontal branch tiers arranged in regular whorls around a straight central trunk.

Typical size & form

Can exceed 30m on established coastal sites. Very upright and formal in shape.

Local occurrence

A defining feature of the coastal towns along the Mid North Coast — foreshores, parks and older beachfront properties.

Common issues

Branch shedding in high wind. Salt-tolerant but suffers in poor drainage. Many are protected as significant landscape trees.

Storm & bushfire considerations

Sheds whole branch tiers in severe wind. Height and location near foreshore infrastructure make these a priority for inspection.

Pruning considerations

Very limited pruning options — removing a tier permanently disfigures the tree. Deadwood removal only, in most cases.

Identification

Deciduous with fine, fern-like foliage and a broad spreading crown. Unmistakable purple flowering display in late spring.

Typical size & form

Typically 10–15m with a wide, spreading crown often broader than it is tall.

Local occurrence

Widely planted in gardens and streets throughout the region. Flowers most reliably in November.

Common issues

Brittle wood prone to breakage. Surface roots lift paving. Weak branch unions are common in older specimens.

Storm & bushfire considerations

Among the more storm-vulnerable garden trees due to brittle timber. Worth checking before storm season.

Pruning considerations

Best pruned in late winter or immediately after flowering. Avoid heavy cuts — Jacaranda responds with weak, congested regrowth.

Identification

Thick, spongy, layered white-cream papery bark that peels in sheets. Often multi-stemmed with a somewhat irregular crown.

Typical size & form

Usually 8–20m. Frequently multi-stemmed, particularly in wetland margins.

Local occurrence

Abundant in low-lying and wetland areas throughout the region — common around the Macleay and Camden Haven floodplains.

Common issues

Shallow root systems in saturated ground reduce stability. Multi-stemmed forms can split at the base union.

Storm & bushfire considerations

Wet-ground root instability is the main storm risk. The papery bark is highly flammable and carries fire readily.

Pruning considerations

Tolerates pruning reasonably. Multi-stem unions warrant assessment — these are the usual point of failure.